'A journey of maybe 17 years of living a life that I didn't want to live, living a lie. Lower-league referee Lloyd Wilson also came out as gay following Napier's announcement. 'I don't think this needs to be a news story but I think at the moment, it really does because we need to see the climate change so that people do feel that they can be their true self.' Daniels became the first active male British professional soccer player to come out as gay since former Norwich City and Nottingham Forest forward Fashanu in 1990. it's really important that people like me are willing to sit here and do this,' he said in video posted by the Scottish Football Association. 'It's something I've obviously lived with for a long time. Napier, 32, said he was inspired by the youngster and felt the need to 'change the climate' and remove the stigma and fear that others in a similar position may feel. The Category One official follows Blackpool's Jake Daniels in coming out after the 17-year-old revealed his sexuality last month.
Scottish referee Craig Napier came out as gay on Thursday, becoming the first openly gay figure in the Scottish game since late Hearts forward Justin Fashanu in the mid-1990s.
