LEADING Super League referee James Child has spoken publicly about his sexuality for the first time and revealed he has been the target of death threats.

In speaking to the BBC’s LGBT Sport Podcast, Child has become one of the highest profile names in rugby league to open up about being gay.

Child, 37, who began refereeing in Super League in 2009 and has been on the RFL’s elite panel for the last 11 years, says he broke his silence in an effort to educate people and encourage respect.

“All my family and friends know and my colleagues know,” he said. “I came out to my colleagues probably about 10 years ago now so it’s not really a surprise.

“I don’t necessarily broadcast it but just live my life normally and that’s the way I’ve chosen to deal with it up until now,” he said.

“In many ways, my sexuality and my job are completely separate and it’s irrelevant.

“When I run out there and make a decision, it doesn’t matter whether I’m gay or straight. What matters is whether the decision is right or wrong.”

Child says he was prompted to open up to his fellow referees following an incident in which he was homophobically abused by an unnamed coach, and thought he was going to be physically assaulted.

“I do receive my fair share of abuse and had a couple of death threats over the last few years which were referred to the police,” he said.

“I’m not saying that’s necessarily all to do with my sexuality but certainly one, if not two, of those were homophobic in content.”

He said of the coach’s abuse: “It was the only time in the last nearly 26 years when I thought I was going to be physically assaulted. I wasn’t but I felt I was at the time.”

Child recognised that fans have the right to voice disagreement with referees. “But when you start bringing religion or disability or sexual orientation into it, we don’t need that level of personalisation,” he added.

“If this will help educate people and get us all to be a little more respectful to each other, then that’s great.”

The RFL said abuse and discrimination are unacceptable, adding that it has programmes to actively tackle the problem.