No LGBT Premier League player should have to fear expressing their sexuality, says Brighton's Dan Burn

Speaking on the eve of Brighton's Rainbow Laces match against Southampton, Brighton's 6ft 7in defender feels no player should fear fully expressing their personality, including their sexuality,

Burn believes campaigns such as Rainbow Laces have helped to create that environment in sport and football.

“It's only a matter of time before someone comes out who is playing at the top level, it's inevitable.

"Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign has been a really good one, it has created a huge amount of awareness and every year I have seen more and more players get onboard with it, which is a positive sign.

“I know that the dressing room I am part of now would be very supportive of any player who wanted to come out. It wouldn't be an issue at all for anyone at our club.

"Of course there would be the media attention. Any player who stepped forward might be worried about that sort of thing, and I can completely understand why they might not want to do it and why it hasn't happened yet.

“There may be players playing in the Premier League who are LGBT+ and we need to make it an environment where people are comfortable to be themselves.

"Every year we're moving in the right direction, the Rainbow Laces campaign has helped that along. People in the stadiums, and at home see the players supporting the cause and it has had a positive effect.

“Young kids see footballers as role models and showing support for the campaign can only be a good thing, it rubs off on the future generations.”

Burn says there is still more to be done, adding, “There is a long way to go, it's the same with the fight against racism.

"It's ridiculous that we have these sorts of issues in 2020.

"A lot of it is about education. There are a lot of people who aren't educated on the topic of LGBT+ and the campaign.

“There's more work to be done, but if one of my teammates came out, in any team that I have played in, we would be fully supportive of them.

"We spend more time with the lads then we do with our families! We're all very close.

"But I can understand why it hasn't happened yet and I would fully support the first person who does it, wherever they are playing, as it would be an incredibly brave thing to do.”