Matt Jarvis, winger for the UK's West
Ham United team, has become only the 3rd football star
(European soccer) to grace the cover of gay glossy Attitude.
The 5-foot-7, 26-year-old Jarvis shows
off his muscular upper torso on the cover of the magazine's upcoming
February issue.
Jarvis said the time was right for a
gay footballer to come out.
“It's everyday life. It's not
something that's going to be a shock,” he said. “I'm sure there
are many footballers who are gay, but when they decide to actually
come out and say it, it is a different story. It's one that I'm sure
they've thought about many times. But it's a hard thing for them to
do.”
Jarvis follows in the footsteps of
David Beckham and Freddie Ljungberg. Beckham appeared on the cover
of Attitude in 2002, and Ljungberg in 2006.
Jarvis added that the sport was ready
for an openly gay player.
“There'd be support everywhere within
the football community, whether it be players, fans or within the PFA
[Professional Footballers' Association]. There would definitely be
groups of people who would be supportive and help them through it.”
(On the Net: Attitude.)