WARNING: German captain advises gay football players Stay in the closet!

Philipp Lahm, the captain of the German football team, has told homosexual players to keep their sexuality secret to avoid being verbally abused, according to the Montreal Gazette.

The Bayern Munich player, who is 27 and married last year, said it would be "very difficult" for a footballer to be "openly gay". But he insisted he would be comfortable to learn that any of his team-mates were gay.

The player's comments will fuel the debate about homophobia in the game and could lead to him being sanctioned by the German football federation, the DFB. In common with many national associations around the world, the DFB is keen to be seen to fight prejudice in the game. Its president, Theo Zwanziger, recently called for homosexual players to come out and promised them the association's help.

In March, he said: "I would find it brave and would welcome it if a football player would come out."