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7th March 2011
11:54am GMT
World-class German left-back Philipp Lahm has denied long-standing speculation that he's gay in a new book released yesterday.
The Germany and Bayern Munich captain rubbished the rumours in his autobiography “The Subtle Difference” and also warned players of coming out.
An excerpt of his book reads: "First, I am not a homosexual. I am not married to my wife Claudia for appearances and I do not have a friend in Cologne with whom I really live.
"I have nothing against homosexuals and I find that there is nothing wrong with homosexuality."
Lahm goes on to say he is not affected by the whispers about his personal life.
"But it never ceases to amaze me that these isolated types, who tell these stories, can have a lot of influence on public opinion. 'Philipp Lahm homosexual' (...) do you not have anything more important to talk about?" he said.
Lahm has also stirred controversy in the book with scathing criticism of German international players and coaches.
In the book he goes into detail about Joachim Loew’s selection failures and Jurgen Klinsmann’s coaching methods.
Lahm has since apologised for the criticisms and Germany's national football organisation (DFB) has indicated that he will remain captain.
