Czech footballer Jakub Jankto has come out as gay, making him the first player in La Liga to do so publicly.
Jankto is currently on loan at Sparta Prague from Getafe in LaLiga. On the international stage, the midfielder has 45 appearances and four goals for his country.
The 27-year-old made the following announcement on social media:
While Major League Soccer has had two active players come out publicly (Robbie Rogers and Collin Martin); European soccer has not followed, despite having many more players.
Homosexuality has been legal in the Czech Republic for decades, but same-sex marriage is not recognized.