Gay Swedish footballer Anton Hysen comes out

Swedish football player Anton Hysen [pic], the son of former Liverpool defender Glenn Hysen, has made worldwide headlines after coming out.

The 20-year-old Hysen, who plays in Sweden’s fourth division, revealed his sexual orientation in an interview published in Swedish magazine Offside.

Hysen said he was aware the announcement could have a negative impact on his career, saying “a club might be interested in me but then the trainer finds out I’m gay and then they change their minds. But that’s their problem, not mine.”

In Sweden, sports in general and football in particular are considered less tolerant than society at large toward gays.

[via AP]