Italian TV presenter Alessandro Cecchi Paone claims there are gay players in the Azzurri World Cup squad.
He has previously suggested there were several gay players in Serie A who were keeping their sexuality a secret.
Paone now tells IBTimes that "unfortunately the football world is a very homophobic universe, a place where machismo has to be exhibited.
"I can assure you that within the locker rooms the sexual orientation of players is known and accepted."
Cecchi Paone was asked whether there were any gay players of the current 30-man provisional World Cup squad.
"Yes, there are. Don't ask me for names, because they are covered by privacy laws and it would also be in bad taste."
