Adelaide United's Josh Cavallo in Adelaide, Australia, in 2021.
Josh Cavallo, Australia's first openly gay soccer player, has revealed that he is subjected to multiple death threats on a daily basis. He also stated that the "toxic" environment within the sport makes it difficult for him to encourage other footballers to come out.
Cavallo, a midfielder for Adelaide United, came out in 2021. Despite the support from his club and coaches, he said that being open about his sexuality has brought him a great deal of pressure and negativity. Speaking on FIFPRO's Footballers Unfiltered podcast, Cavallo said, "I still receive multiple, multiple, multiple death threats every day. It's really disheartening to see. In the world of football, being an openly
gay player means being in a very toxic environment. It's something that not everyone can endure and go through."
He further added, "We're still a very long way from achieving acceptance in this field. So, these are the factors that people will take into account when considering coming out. They might not come out now because coming out brings a lot of attention, pressure, and negativity, which will ultimately affect their performance in the long run."
Cavallo has endured homophobic abuse from soccer crowds during his games for Adelaide United and has been vocal about this issue on social media. "It's hard to tell people, 'Absolutely, come out and be yourself,'" he said. "Because there are also a lot of downsides that I don't think people are aware of."
Cavallo said that having a support system around him has helped him "put up a wall" to protect himself from the abuse. He also expressed regret for not coming out earlier, instead of waiting until he was 21, as he felt he was living a lie. "I was tired of hiding and having to avoid people, not being able to be my true self," he said. "I used to wonder why no one in football had come out to be themselves and succeed in the sport. Now, looking back, I understand all the negativity that comes with it."
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