Sports minister Tracey Crouch has insisted gay footballers should be encouraged and supported to come out, describing reported comments from the FA chairman Greg Clarke as "unhelpful".
The Tory frontbencher added that, while the FA has made progress, it should remember it is there to support footballers.
Clarke was recently reported as saying he "wouldn't recommend" a player coming out at the moment because of the risk they would be abused.
Appearing before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee in October, Clarke told MPs he was "ashamed" of the game's homophobia and recognised the governing body must do more to tackle this "vile abuse".
He noted a vocal minority in grounds and on social media currently make it "impossible" for a leading player to come out as gay.
Clarke also told MPs: "I can't give you enough of a commitment as to how much I hate that behaviour - it needs stamping out. I'm just cautious about advising people to come out until we've done our job."
But, replying to a question from SNP MP Hannah Bardell (Livingston) in the Commons on Thursday, MP Crouch said: "The reported comments are indeed unhelpful and we should be encouraging and supporting people in all sports who wish to come out.
"We need to make sure we use existing legislation to stop homophobic chanting and language during sporting events.
"I know the FA is working hard on trying to support people within the game and progress has been made in tackling homophobia and we need to perhaps consider other means of doing this as well.
"But supporting players is absolutely essential."