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Jake Daniels the first openly gay U.K. professional Footballer since 1990
17-year-old Jake Daniels is the first active U.K. professional footballer to come out as gay since 1990
Daniels plays for Blackpool Football Club in England and has publicly come out as gay, making him the first to do so in decades.
In a special report by Sky Sports News, Daniels says he knew he was gay from a young age but worried that football and his identity didn’t mix.
In a moment of great importance and player pride, Daniels confided in his teammates and publicly spoke of his identity, at the start of his career.
Daniels made his senior debut for the club just weeks ago but says he is ready to be himself and inspire others in the game.
Daniels says “the time is right to be myself, be free and be confident…Now is the time to do it…I feel like I am ready to tell people my story. I want people to know the real me.”
“I’ve known my whole life that I’m gay, and I now feel that I’m ready to come out and be myself.
In reaching this point, I’ve had some of the best support and advice from my family, my Club, my agent and Stonewall, who have all been incredibly pro-active in putting my interests and welfare first.
I have also confided in my team-mates in the youth team here at Blackpool, and they too have embraced the news and supported my decision to open up and tell people.” “I’ve hated lying my whole life and feeling the need to change to fit in. I want to be a role model myself by doing this.”
Jake daniels statement
Daniels is a well-respected and talented player for the English club, who scored 30 goals for Blackpool’s youth team this season.
“Blackpool Football Club has worked closely with Stonewall and the relevant footballing organisations to support Jake and is incredibly proud that he has reached a stage where he is empowered to express himself both on-and-off the pitch.”
blackpool football club statement
Messages of support are flooding in for Daniels from all over the world, including some of the biggest names in the sport community.
Daniels hopes to make it a safe space for other people to speak out with a clear message for viewers.
If you’re ready then speak to the closest people around you… You’re going to get support.”
Jake Daniels exclusive sky sports news
What’s happening in the Middle East?
- President Donald Trump says Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed.
- Trump describes the moment as the greatest opportunity for the Iranian people to “take back their country”.
- Iran insists its leader is “firmly commanding the field”.
- Israel and the U.S. have carried out strikes on Iran.
- Impacts have been reported in Israel and across Gulf states as Iran launches retaliatory attacks.
- The escalation has sparked fear and panic, with civilians fleeing major cities.
News
U.S. and Israel strike Iran as missiles hit Gulf bases and oil surges
U.S. and Israel launch major military operation against Iran; tensions rise as conflict escalates, impacting global markets.
U.S. and Israel launch major military operation against Iran; tensions rise as conflict escalates, impacting global markets.
The United States and Israel have launched a sweeping military operation against Iran, striking leadership targets and more than 500 military sites in what President Trump has dubbed Operation Epic Fury.
Explosions have rocked Tehran, with civilians fleeing the capital as U.S. sea and air assets carry out sustained attacks. Washington says the mission is designed to prevent a nuclear armed Iran and has even called on Iranians to rise up against the regime.
Iran has retaliated with a barrage of missiles and drones targeting Israel and U.S. bases across the region, including in Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. While many projectiles were intercepted, a U.S. base in Bahrain sustained damage.
Gulf states long seen as stable hubs for global business are now directly in the firing line, raising fears of a wider regional war.
Oil prices are climbing and tankers are diverting from the Strait of Hormuz as markets react to the escalating conflict. U.S. aircraft carriers, advanced fighter jets and missile destroyers remain in position, signalling more strikes could follow.
With global leaders scrambling diplomatically, the world is watching to see whether this spirals further or shifts back to negotiations.
News
Iran warns ships to avoid Strait of Hormuz
Iran warns ships to avoid Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions and military buildup in the region
Iran warns ships to avoid Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions and military buildup in the region
– Iran’s Guard Corps advises ships to avoid the Strait of Hormuz due to rising tensions.
– Tankers have diverted to Qatar and UAE amidst concerns over safety and potential Iranian threats.
Ships have been repeatedly warned against entering the strait, as stated by crews in the area and the European Union’s naval command, Aspides. On Saturday, dozens of tankers diverted, with some seeking refuge in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates while others opted to steer clear of the region, as reported by oil brokers and shipowners.
Shipping Concerns
Tensions continue to impact shipping operations as carriers remain cautious in the Gulf region.
Tanker crews reported hearing explosions near Iran’s Kharg Island, which is vital for the country’s oil exports, as it handles 90% of its crude oil shipments.
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