Three top football stars are getting ready to come out as gay, according to an MP.

The trio who are in the upper leagues of the FA are poised to reveal their sexuality and apparently ‘waiting for the right time’.

SNP MP John Nicholson, a member of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said: ‘I understand there are three players in talks with the FA about coming out, and they haven’t done so yet.’

There are currently no gay professional players in British football. Justin Fashanu was the first in 1990, but later committed suicide in 1998. Since him, no one else has dared to do so.

Sports Minister Tracey Crouch criticized FA chairman Greg Clarke for saying he ‘wouldn’t recommend’ a player coming out.

Describing them as ‘disappointing’, she said they would only encourage a gay player to hide their sexuality’.

She said: ‘In terms of the environment of someone coming out, today, now, has probably never been a better time to come out.

‘Society has changed really quite significantly from a generational perspective in terms of attitude towards homosexuality.

‘I think if someone were to decide to come out that they should feel they are being supported by the authorities and that any abuse would be tackled in the same way as it would be if it was directed towards one of their black players.’

The Tory Minister added: ‘I would say to anyone in any sport that if they felt the time was right to come out – and that is a personal decision for them – that they should feel they have the support of the governing bodies they are within.’