Mario Basler warns of risks for gay players in German football

Former professional footballer Mario Basler has expressed skepticism regarding the possibility of gay players coming out in German professional football. Speaking on the podcast ‘Gestatten, von Sinnen!’ hosted by Hella von Sinnen, the 57-year-old stated that a player who comes out would face a ‘running of the gauntlet’ and could be ‘destroyed’ by the reaction.

Basler noted that while he personally is open and tolerant toward the queer community, he believes it remains ‘almost impossible’ to come out in the Bundesliga today due to the social consequences. He remarked that if a player had come out during his active career, they might as well have retired immediately.

The discussion also touched upon former national player Thomas Hitzlsperger, who publicly came out in 2014.