Italian football gays won`t come out, says Roma `keeper

Rome: 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 % 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."