Gary Lineker says that Jake Daniels decision to come out as the UK's only openly gay active male professional footballer has laid a path many others will follow.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, England captain Harry Kane and several charity groups praised his announcement.
I think he will be accepted, according to Lineker.
He plays against players in his own dressing room. Dressing rooms wouldn't think about it. If you are a good footballer, they will consider it. That is all that matters.
I think the game will be better for it, as I think he is going down a path many others will follow. Once they see that the majority of people will accept, others will follow suit.
Lineker believes that football should have passed this moment a long time ago.
Daniels said that supporters canhout what they want, it's not going to make a difference.
Kick it Out said there is a young man at the heart of the announcement. A young man shouldn't have to be defined by one moment or part of his identity.
England captain Kane said Daniels deserves a lot of credit and stressed that football should be welcoming for everyone.
Daniels, who made his professional debut this month, has said that he has known he was gay since he was a child.
Josh Cavallo is the only openly gay male professional footballer in the world and he has drawn inspiration from others.
The game has not dealt with this issue well, according to Gary Neville.
We know that it is acceptable from a fan point of view, but it is not yet in the dressing room. You think about the initiation ceremonies you go through, the peer pressure and the vulnerability you have in a dressing room.
The way in which Jake spoke was incredible. Courage is what he has just done. It is a day of great importance for Jake and his family, but also for English football. It will go down in history. It is a big moment for football.
In 1990 the first male footballer in the UK to come out was the late Justin Fashanu. The foundation set up in memory of Daniels praised him.
The niece of Fashanu told the radio station that it was an incredible moment. I'm getting constant goosebumps, it's like finally there is a footballer comfortable to be who he is. I feel like I have been doing great work for the past 10 years.
There is no doubt that the environment is changing. This is proof that we are getting there.
It is not going to be easy and fans will make mention of it, but I don't think it will be as bad as we thought it would be.
The Professional Footballers Association issued a message to players thinking about following in his footsteps, stating: "We are here for you, whatever you decide, and however you choose to move forward."
While Daniels is the only openly gay active men's professional footballer in the UK, a number of players in the women's game have come out.
They include a former England captain, who said that it would be great if we didn't have to use words like guts and courage to describe someone being comfortable being themselves.
Several men's players have come out after their playing careers were over, including formerEverton and Aston VillaMidfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger and ex-Hull City youth player Thomas Beattie.
He helped set up restrictions on the teenager's social media platforms to guard against what people may or may not say to him once the news breaks.
It's a really overwhelming period and having gone through it myself, I know some of the emotions you go through.
I know what it is like to live in a world of having two lives and hiding a piece of yourself. He gets to live his truth and authentic self.
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