'%3E%3Cpath d='M16.3574 35.6519H12.9537L15.0491 18.8873L16.3574 35.6519ZM30.4229 54.0093L22.309 0.994385H7.91795L0 54.0093H10.6634L11.5802 46.3855H17.4014L17.9914 54.0093H30.4229Z' fill='%23971B20'/%3E%3Cpath d='M48.2073 41.8813C48.2073 43.4049 47.4892 44.0011 46.1144 44.0011H43.7595V11.0687H46.1144C47.4892 11.0687 48.2073 11.6636 48.2073 13.1885V41.8813ZM59.5273 43.6695V11.3326C59.5273 3.71323 53.5729 0.994385 47.8157 0.994385H31.7213V54.0093H47.8157C53.5729 54.0093 59.5273 51.29 59.5273 43.6695Z' fill='%23971B20'/%3E%3Cpath d='M90.183 0.994385H78.6039L75.0711 30.6157L71.9955 0.994385H59.4346L69.2474 54.0093H80.373L90.183 0.994385Z' fill='%23971B20'/%3E%3Cpath d='M107.063 42.3448C107.063 43.7359 105.951 44.5974 104.643 44.5974C103.269 44.5974 102.157 43.7359 102.157 42.3448V12.658C102.157 11.2676 103.269 10.4058 104.643 10.4058C105.951 10.4058 107.063 11.2676 107.063 12.658V42.3448ZM119.233 43.2723V11.7312C119.233 6.36384 112.952 -3.8147e-06 104.643 -3.8147e-06C96.2667 -3.8147e-06 89.9867 6.36384 89.9867 11.7312V43.2723C89.9867 48.6393 96.2667 55 104.643 55C112.952 55 119.233 48.6393 119.233 43.2723Z' fill='%23971B20'/%3E%3Cpath d='M150.976 43.9349V33.7309H139.069V42.3448C139.069 43.7359 137.957 44.5974 136.582 44.5974C135.076 44.5974 133.964 43.7359 133.964 42.3448V12.658C133.964 11.2676 135.076 10.4058 136.582 10.4058C137.957 10.4058 139.069 11.2676 139.069 12.658V21.2723H150.976V11.0687C150.976 5.70107 145.283 -3.8147e-06 136.582 -3.8147e-06C127.75 -3.8147e-06 121.796 5.70107 121.796 11.0687V43.9349C121.796 49.3022 127.75 55 136.582 55C145.283 55 150.976 49.3022 150.976 43.9349Z' fill='%23971B20'/%3E%3Cpath d='M167.478 35.6519H164.076L166.17 18.8873L167.478 35.6519ZM181.544 54.0093L173.432 0.994385H159.037L151.123 54.0093H161.785L162.704 46.3855H168.523L169.114 54.0093H181.544Z' fill='%23971B20'/%3E%3Cpath d='M205.412 10.4058V0.994385H177.081V10.4058H185.392V54.0093H197.428V10.4058H205.412Z' fill='%23971B20'/%3E%3Cpath d='M230.002 54.0093V43.9349H218.914V31.8746H226.635V21.8028H218.914V10.4058H230.002V0.994385H206.875V54.0093H230.002Z' fill='%23971B20'/%3E%3C/g%3E%3Cdefs%3E%3CclipPath id='clip0_260_7080'%3E%3Crect width='230' height='55' fill='white'/%3E%3C/clipPath%3E%3C/defs%3E%3C/svg%3E){kind=small}
Ian Bishop, a former footballer who never made it to Britain's major leagues, blames untrue gay rumors for stunting his career.
Bishop, 47, said in a recent interview that whispers about him being in a relationship with another player were the reason he was never recruited to Britain's top football teams.
"Nothing against gay people. People are free to be what they want and there's no issue. It didn't hurt me to be called it -- it hurt me because it affected my life," Bishop, who now lives in the U.S., told the Manchester Evening News. "In a way, it could have affected my international prospects at the time. I just thought if that's the way they think, then I'm not bothered anymore."
