Football: Italian football gays won't come out, says Roma 'keeper

MILAN - Italy is unlikely to witness gay footballers from publicly revealing their sexuality because of homophobic attitudes in the country's professional leagues, said Roma goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis.

"... homosexuality exists in Italian football. Out of 400-500 players, 2-3 per cent are for sure gay, but no one has had the courage to come out because unfortunately ours is a homophobic environment", De Sanctis told Gazzetta dello Sport.

De Sanctis, who hinted he could be in his last year in Italy's top flight before a possible move to the United States, made the comments in a two-page interview Thursday in which he mainly alleged that champions Juventus benefit from favourable refereering decisions.

It comes two weeks after Roma suffered a 3-2 defeat in Turin, allowing Juventus to pull three points clear at the top of Serie A.

The 37-year-old 'keeper also said he has witnessed "pharmaceutical abuse".

Asked if he had ever witnessed doping during his 20-year career, the former Juventus, Sevilla (Spain) and Napoli 'keeper said: "Doping no, but pharmaceutical abuse yes."