Czech footballer Jakub Jankto comes out as gay

Czech football international Jakub Jankto has become the highest profile current male player to publicly come out as gay. Jankto, who is 27, made a public announcement on Twitter on Monday.

In the short English-language video said he wanted to live his life freely, “without prejudice, without violence”, adding “I am homosexual and I no longer want to hide”.

Very few gay players in the men’s game have ever come out and the story has made international headlines.

Jankto is contracted to the club Getafe but is currently with Sparta Prague on loan.