Marcus Urban, 54, a former professional footballer and Germany’s first male player to publicly come out as gay, has alleged that some secretly gay footballers in Europe’s top leagues are staging fake relationships to conceal their sexuality.
Urban, who played for 16 years before coming out in 2007, is now an LGBTQ+ spokesperson in the sport. Speaking ahead of the August 18 release of Mensch Fußballstar (“Human Football Star”) by Swiss broadcaster Andreas Boni—a book featuring candid conversations with high-profile football figures including German legend Lothar Matthäus and FIFA president Gianni Infantino—Urban’s remarks were published in German outlet BILD.
He claimed that in leagues such as the Bundesliga, some players are involved in same-sex relationships but are prevented from coming out—not by media or fan backlash, but by their own fears and the influence of those around them.
“It used to be said that the media and fans were to blame for no one coming out,” Urban said. “Today, I think it’s the fears of the players themselves and their inner circles. Most media would now support it, and I honestly believe fans are no longer the problem. Clubs aren’t really the issue either—it’s the internal climate.”
Urban alleged that in some cases, “fake girlfriends” and “fake marriages” are arranged to maintain a public heterosexual image. He claimed agencies even organise sexual encounters and that player agents sometimes manage these arrangements, giving them leverage over their clients.
“There are also gay couples in the Bundesliga—very nice and attractive couples,” he added. “Maybe one day they will come out.”
Urban revealed that a group of German professionals had previously considered a coordinated public coming out. As co-founder of Diversero, a global diversity network, he had expressed optimism about the plan. A specific date, May 17, 2024, was even proposed. However, the announcement never happened, which Urban attributes to players being advised against it by lawyers, agents, family members, and others who benefit from their fame and earnings.
“The players are repeatedly thwarted in their desire for freedom,” he said. “Too many people around them project their own fears under the guise of care, and in doing so, they keep these players in the shadows.”
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