FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION chair Greg Clarke said yesterday he could not encourage gay players to come out until football became a “safe place” and homophobia was stamped out of the game.

Clarke and the FA’s director of strategy Robert Sullivan were appearing before the House of Commons culture, media and sport committee, with the MPs repeatedly challenging them on what due diligence was done before Sam Allardyce was hired in July.

However, it was his comments on gay footballers which raised eyebrows and highlighted the lack of action on kicking homophobia out of the game.