Literally go into a football changing room 10 years ago when I was playing as a kid and you were called a "poof", "bent", "gay", even when you weren't.

There was targeted homophobia towards people who weren't gay, but people suspected you were.

Since then, it's more not feeling comfortable to come out particular when people speak about gay people as if they are not around. There's definitely less homophobia than before hence why a prominent player has come out.