Being Gay in Men's Football: An Unwelcoming Atmosphere

“You don't belong on this earth” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”

Since revealing his homosexuality in 2021, player Josh Cavallo has received daily death threats and abusive messages on online platforms.

“When I first saw these messages, I was devastated,” Cavallo explains. “Nobody should have to endure such words.

“I'm working to improve my skills and reach my full potential during matches, and then face criticism because of who I am. It's appalling.”

Player Cavallo was playing for Adelaide United four years ago when he emerged as the sole publicly out top-flight male professional footballer in the world.

Recently he departed from Australia to sign with lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in the sixth division, one level below of English football.

This young athlete balances his sports career for the semi-professional team by speaking up on inclusion matters and leveraging his platform - boasting over a million followers on social media - to champion equality and inclusion.

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

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

‘People want to harm me’

It took years for Cavallo to build up the bravery to say “I am homosexual” before revealing his sexuality on 27 October 2021.

“All I want to do is compete in soccer and be treated equally,” he said in an related clip.

The player was twenty-one and making a name for himself at his Australian club in Australia's top flight when, backed by his colleagues, he publicly came out.

“The future was uncertain. I didn't know what to expect,” he recalls. “It felt like the right time in my life. I needed to move forward.”

His emotional coming out video, titled ‘Josh's Truth’, gained massive attention on digital platforms.

“My phone was flooded with messages of support. It was overwhelming.”

Liverpool were among numerous famous teams around the world to show solidarity with the player, with the coach at the time the German manager saying: “I appreciate that he took this step because now we talk again.”

Spanish player Gerard Pique also offered support, posting online that “the world of football is lagging behind and your actions drive progress”, while his former club released a comment supporting their “extraordinary” and “courageous” player.

Others, however, were less welcoming.

Cavallo quickly became a target of anti-gay remarks by opposition fans.

During early 2022 a competing team were fined 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.”

There was a frightening incident at a petrol station in Australia, where Cavallo was assaulted by an individual who identified him from the coverage.

“It was terrifying,” he remembers. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is happening - individuals intend to hurt me’.

“Is it acceptable? Definitely not. But through my disclosure, this is what it brings.

“I hope that future individuals who comes out while playing football at a high level won't face the journey I have experienced.”

The player says the constant menacing messages and abusive messages have affected his mental health.

“It's quite sad because I must justify why I belong on the football field for being who I am,” he states.

“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘what gives you the right in football?’.

“Many individuals see me as a cheerful, optimistic person. But there are days when I lean on my fiance, his name, and he witnesses a lot that happens privately.”

‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’

The player's choice to disclose his orientation helped prompt 17-year-old Blackpool forward Jake Daniels to come out as the UK's only openly gay active male professional footballer in May 2022.

Nevertheless, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the top English division.

“It would move mountains,” says the footballer on the effect a elite athlete revealing their orientation would have.

“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. There are a lot of scary things that would come this person's way. In the world of football, identifying as LGBTQ is a very toxic place.”

Twenty-seven years after Justin Fashanu - the UK's initial out soccer professional - took his own life in 1998, the current athlete has spoken about the “harmful male culture” that persists in men's football.

“You just need to go to a game and observe the hostile environment and masculinity that the crowd brings,” he says.

“There is still a lot of work to make sure there is a safe space in football for people like myself and Jake.

“We haven't seen it (more players coming out) as much as we would like.

“I can only keep pushing for principles I believe in, and work towards taking out the toxic masculinity in football changing rooms and creating a safe space.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

Cavallo says soccer has enabled discussions within team environments about coming out.

However, he is disapproving toward Fifa, after Qatar, where same-sex relationships are against the law, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.

The 2034 tournament is scheduled in Saudi Arabia, where same-sex attraction is similarly prohibited.

“Do I approve that the World Cup is in nations that criminalise same-sex marriages, where people like me will be put in prison for merely living on their territory? It's frightening,” says Cavallo.

“I get messages [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for being who I am - can you help me?’.

“It's devastating that people are getting locked up for being who they are.

“There are countries that are huge in terms of football and they reject LGBTQ+ people. Those are the countries that often focus on me.”

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

“Football has enabled dialogue in the locker room. It has allowed me to speak and educate people who want to learn more.

“Not everyone is going to like you for your identity. But I have found my family. I have found my community.

“My mission is to create change. That's what I'm here for.”