Marcus Urban, the first male professional footballer in Germany to come out as gay, has claimed that some closeted players across Europe’s top leagues are going to extreme lengths to keep their sexuality hidden - including arranging fake relationships and even sham marriages.
Urban, now 54, publicly came out in 2007, 16 years after his final competitive game, and has since become a prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport.
Speaking ahead of the release of Mensch Fußballstar (“Human Football Star”), a new book by Swiss journalist Andreas Boni featuring contributions from big football names like Lothar Matthäus and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Urban shed light on why he believes players still remain silent.
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In extracts obtained by BILD, Urban argued that, contrary to the traditional narrative, it is no longer the media, fans, or clubs preventing players from coming out.
Marcus Urban, the first male professional footballer in Germany to come out as gay, has claimed that some closeted players across Europe’s top leagues are going to extreme lengths to keep their sexuality hidden - including arranging fake relationships and even sham marriages
|PA
“It used to be said that the media and fans were to blame for no one coming out,” Urban said.
“I think today it’s just the fears of the players and the people around them, at least here in the heart of Europe.
"I think almost all the media would support it. I honestly believe the fans are no longer the problem.
"The clubs hardly are either. It’s more about the internal climate these days.”
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Urban then alleged that an organised industry exists around hiding sexuality in football, complete with agencies that arrange 'fake girlfriends' and 'fake marriages' for high-profile players.
“At the same time, there are agencies that organise sex encounters," he said.
"They also make good money from this.
"But the players’ agents also sometimes organise this for their clients — and then they have the players in their hands.
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"There are also gay couples in the Bundesliga, and they’re very nice and very pretty. Maybe the day will come when they come out.”
The former player also revealed that efforts to coordinate a mass coming-out day in Germany last year ultimately failed after players were persuaded against it by those closest to them.
“The players are repeatedly thwarted in their desire for freedom,” Urban explained.
“There were some who wanted to come out. For example, we planned a day of coming out on May 17, 2024," he continued.
"In the end, no one dared. There are still too many people around them who advised them against it - media lawyers, advisors, family - people basking in their money and fame and projecting their misguided pseudo-care and their own fears onto the players.”
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Jake Daniels was the last footballer in Britain to come out as gay, with the Blackpool star revealing his sexuality in 2021
|GETTY
While there are no openly gay footballers currently playing in the Premier League, the last British male professional to come out while still active was Jake Daniels, who revealed his sexuality in 2021 while playing for Blackpool — becoming the first since Justin Fashanu in 1990.
Urban believes more players will eventually take that step, but for now, he says entrenched fears and the influence of powerful advisors remain the biggest barriers.