Being Gay in Professional Soccer: An Unwelcoming Atmosphere

“You don't belong on this earth” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Stop breathing.”

After announcing his homosexuality in 2021, footballer the athlete has received daily death threats and abusive messages on online platforms.

“Upon reading those comments, it broke my heart,” Cavallo states. “Nobody should have to endure such words.

“I'm trying to get better as a player and be the best I can be during matches, and then face criticism due to my identity. It's appalling.”

Midfielder the sportsman was at Adelaide United four years ago when he became the only openly gay top-flight male professional footballer in the world.

This summer he departed from Australia to sign with non-league Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in the sixth division, one level below of English football.

The 25-year-old balances his sports career for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by speaking up on inclusion matters and leveraging his platform - boasting over a million followers on social media - to promote fairness and inclusion.

“Definitely, there's enormous work ahead,” Cavallo says when questioned about ongoing issues with homophobia.

“Rarely a week passes without hearing about an issue.”

‘People want to harm me’

Several years passed for the athlete to work up the courage to say “I am homosexual” before revealing his sexuality on October 27th, 2021.

“My only desire is compete in soccer and be treated equally,” he stated in an related clip.

The player was 21 and building his reputation at his Australian club in the premier division when, backed by his colleagues, he announced his orientation publicly.

“I didn't know what was ahead. I didn't know what to expect,” he recalls. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I needed to move forward.”

His emotional coming out video, titled ‘Josh's Truth’, went viral on social media.

“My mobile phone exploded with messages of support. The response was incredible.”

Liverpool were one of many high-profile clubs around the world to express support for Cavallo, with the coach at the time Jurgen Klopp saying: “I'm really thankful that he took this step because it sparks conversation.”

Spanish player Gerard Pique also expressed backing, posting online that “soccer culture is lagging behind and you are helping us move forward”, while Adelaide United issued a statement supporting their “extraordinary” and “brave” player.

Others, however, were less welcoming.

Cavallo quickly became a subject to anti-gay remarks by opposition fans.

In January 2022 a competing team were penalized A$5,000 over discriminatory chants from spectators directed at Cavallo during a match.

“The comments I encountered were painful and disparaging towards my community,” he explains.

“I didn't react because I knew that would only feed the haters.”

A scary event occurred at a petrol station in Australia, where Cavallo was assaulted by someone who recognised him from the coverage.

“It was terrifying,” he remembers. “I remember thinking ‘this is real - people want to harm me’.

“Is it acceptable? Definitely not. But by coming out, these are the consequences.

“I hope that future individuals who comes out while competing in soccer at a professional standard won't face the path I have endured.”

Cavallo says the daily death threats and abusive messages have affected his mental health.

“It's disappointing because I must justify why I belong on the football field for my identity,” he says.

“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘why should you exist in football?’.

“Many individuals see me as a cheerful, positive person. But there are days when I lean on my fiance, Leighton, and he gets to see much of what occurs behind the scenes.”

‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’

Cavallo's decision to reveal his sexuality helped inspire teenage attacking player Jake Daniels to announce he was gay as the Britain's sole publicly out playing soccer professional in spring 2022.

Nevertheless, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the Premier League.

“It would create massive change,” says Cavallo on the effect a Premier League player revealing their orientation would make.

“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. There are a lot of scary things that would await this individual. Within soccer culture, being an openly gay player is a very toxic place.”

Over two decades after a pioneering player - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - took his own life in 1998, Cavallo has spoken about the “harmful male culture” that still exists in men's football.

“Simply attend to a match and observe the hostile environment and masculinity that the crowd brings,” he explains.

“Much remains to be done to make sure there is a safe space in soccer for people like myself and his colleague.

“Progress has been limited (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as much as we would like.

“I can only keep pushing for principles I believe in, and work towards eliminating the toxic masculinity in football changing rooms and establishing secure environments.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

The player says soccer has allowed him to have conversations inside dressing rooms about revealing one's orientation.

Yet, he is critical of Fifa, after Qatar, where homosexual partnerships are illegal, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.

The 2034 tournament will be held in another Gulf state, where same-sex attraction is similarly prohibited.

“Do I approve that the World Cup is in nations that criminalise same-sex marriages, where individuals like myself will be put in prison for merely living on that land? It's scary,” states the athlete.

“I get messages [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I face imprisonment for being who I am - is assistance possible?’.

“It breaks my heart that individuals are incarcerated for their true selves.

“Certain nations that are significant soccer markets and they don't accept LGBTQ+ people. Those are the countries that tend to target me.”

Despite this, Cavallo says he won't cease advocating.

“Soccer has enabled dialogue in the changing room. It lets me communicate and inform individuals who seek understanding.

“Some will disapprove for who you are. But I've discovered support. I have found my community.

“My purpose is to drive progress. That's what I'm here for.”