Robbie Rogers trains with LA Galaxy after coming out and quitting soccer
Robbie Rogers, the US international who quit soccer after revealing that he is gay, is back in training with the Los Angeles Galaxy.
In a breakthrough week for US sports, with basketball player Jason Collins having come out as the first openly gay player in one of the four traditional major American professional sports leagues, Rogers trained with the Galaxy, two months after announcing that he was gay and saying he was "stepping away" from the game.
The former international, 25, was released by Leeds United in January, after a loan spell at Stevenage, and in February said he was leaving the game that had "hid his secret". But on Tuesday he trained with the Galaxy, whose coach, Bruce Arena, said it was "open-ended" as to what his future with the club might hold. The Chicago Fire hold Rogers' Major League Soccer rights, meaning the Galaxy would need to work out a trade in order to sign him.
"He looked a lot sharper than I thought he would today, given the fact he's been away from the game for a while" Arena told the Galaxy's website. "The timing I guess is good. I think our league is a progressive league. Our league is a league comprised of all different races, colours and creeds, and to be accepting of a gay athlete I don't think is anything that's difficult for our league.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/may/01/robbie-rogers-gay-footballer-la-galaxy