![\"Craig](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/image_2022-06-02_115302200-696x393.png\" "\\"Craig")
Craig Napier has become the first Scottish referee to come out publicly as gay.<\/p>\n
The category one official follows footballers Josh Cavallo and Jake Daniels in coming out.<\/p>\n
Napier said he was inspired by the players\u2019 decision and believes it is time \u201cto see the climate change\u201d within the sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s something that I never thought I\u2019d be sitting here doing,\u201d Napier told the Scottish FA.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s something I\u2019ve obviously lived with for a long time. It\u2019s been a difficult journey to get to this point. It\u2019s really important that people like me are willing to sit here and do this.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think this needs to be a news story but I think at the moment, it really does because we need to see the climate change so that people do feel that they can be their true self and live happily and comfortable in their own skin. And then that needs to transcend into football.\u201d<\/p>\n
When not refereeing, Napier, who took charge of 32 SPFL and domestic cup fixtures during the 2021-22 season, works for the NHS and revealed he had \u201cnever had a bad experience when I\u2019ve had these conversations\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always felt so much lighter after speaking about it,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t a conversation about me, this is a conversation about trying to change the culture in Scottish football.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is something about football, there\u2019s still that barrier. Hopefully here in Scotland I can play a small part in hoping that it can inspire whoever is out there to be more comfortable in who they are and have the conversations with their family, their friends, their team-mates and come out publicly if they feel able to.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are no footballers on the pitch who are [openly gay], but they are there. And until we have these conversations and these role models on the pitch, there will be that stigma and that fear.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cavallo, who plays for Australian club Adelaide United, came out last October, making him the only currently openly gay top-flight male professional footballer in the world.<\/p>\n
Daniels, a forward with English second-tier club Blackpool, announced in May that he is gay. He was the first professional in the UK men\u2019s game for more than 30 years to come out while still playing.<\/p>\n