Being Gay in Professional Soccer: A Toxic Environment
“We've got mountains to do” - Cavallo on homophobia in soccer
“You shouldn't exist” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Stop breathing.”
Since revealing his homosexuality in 2021, player Josh Cavallo has faced constant threats and abusive messages on social media.
“When I first saw these messages, I was devastated,” the player explains. “No-one wants to read things like that.
“I'm working to improve my skills and be the best I can be during matches, and then face criticism because of who I am. It's appalling.”
Midfielder Cavallo was playing for Adelaide United back in 2020 when he emerged as the sole publicly out top-flight male professional footballer in the world.
This summer he departed from Australia to join non-league Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in the sixth division, the sixth tier of the English soccer system.
The 25-year-old combines playing for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by advocating for inclusion matters and leveraging his platform - he has more than one million followers on social media - to champion equality and inclusion.
“Absolutely, there's enormous work ahead,” the footballer comments when questioned about ongoing issues with discrimination.
“Rarely a week passes without encountering problems.”
‘People want to harm me’
Josh Cavallo grew up in Melbourne
It took years for Cavallo to work up the courage to say “I'm gay” before revealing his sexuality on October 27th, 2021.
“All I want to do is compete in soccer and receive fair treatment,” he said in an accompanying video.
The player was 21 and building his reputation at Adelaide United in Australia's top flight when, with the support of his team-mates, he announced his orientation publicly.
“The future was uncertain. I didn't know what to expect,” he recalls. “It felt like the right time in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”
The heartfelt revelation clip, titled ‘Josh's Truth’, went viral on social media.
“My mobile phone exploded with encouraging words. It was overwhelming.”
Liverpool were one of many high-profile clubs around the world to show solidarity with Cavallo, with the coach at the time Jurgen Klopp saying: “I appreciate that he did it because now we talk again.”
Barcelona defender the athlete also offered support, writing on social media that “the world of football is lagging behind and you are helping us move forward”, while his former club released a comment backing their “extraordinary” and “brave” player.
Some people, however, were not so accepting.
Cavallo soon turned into a target of homophobic abuse by opposition fans.
During early 2022 a competing team were fined A$5,000 over discriminatory chants from spectators aimed toward Cavallo during a match.
“The comments I encountered were hurtful and disparaging towards my community,” he explains.
“I remained calm because responding would encourage detractors.”
A scary event occurred at a petrol station in Australia, where the athlete was physically attacked by an individual who identified him from the coverage.
“That was a scary moment,” he remembers. “I remember thinking ‘this is happening - individuals intend to hurt me’.
“Should this be tolerated? Definitely not. But through my disclosure, these are the consequences.
“My wish is that future individuals who comes out while playing football at a high level doesn't have to experience the path I have endured.”
Cavallo says the daily death threats and hostile communications have affected his mental health.
“It's disappointing because I must justify why I belong on the soccer pitch for being who I am,” he says.
“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘why should you exist in football?’.
“Many individuals see me as a cheerful, optimistic person. But sometimes when I rely on my partner, his name, and he gets to see a lot that happens behind the scenes.”
‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’
The player's choice to reveal his sexuality helped prompt teenage attacking player another athlete to come out as the Britain's sole publicly out active male professional footballer in May 2022.
Nevertheless, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the Premier League.
“It would move mountains,” says Cavallo on the impact a elite athlete coming out would have.
“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. Numerous frightening aspects that would come this person's way. In the world of football, being an openly gay player is a highly hostile environment.”
Over two decades after Justin Fashanu - the UK's initial out soccer professional - took his own life in 1998, the current athlete has spoken about the “toxic masculinity” that persists in professional soccer.
“Simply attend to a match and observe the unfriendly atmosphere and male-dominated culture that the audience creates,” he explains.
“Much remains to be done to ensure there is a safe space in soccer for individuals like me and his colleague.
“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 eliminating the toxic masculinity in soccer locker rooms and creating a safe space.”
‘I'm here to create change’
The athlete was awarded an honorary degree from Flinders University in Adelaide in 2022, honoring his efforts as a role model in sport and a advocate for fairness
The player says football has allowed him to have conversations within team environments about coming out.
Yet, he is critical of soccer's global governing body, after Qatar, where same-sex relationships are against the law, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.
The 2034 tournament will be held in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is similarly prohibited.
“Am I impressed that the global championship is in nations that criminalise same-sex marriages, where people like me will be put in prison for merely living on that land? It's frightening,” says the athlete.
“I receive communications [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for being who I am - is assistance possible?’.
“It breaks my heart that individuals are incarcerated for being who they are.
“There are countries that are significant soccer markets and they reject the queer community. Those are the countries that tend to target me.”
Nevertheless, Cavallo says he won't cease advocating.
“Football has enabled dialogue in the changing room. It has allowed me to speak and inform individuals who seek understanding.
“Some will disapprove for who you are. But I've discovered support. I've connected with similar people.
“My mission is to drive progress. That's my objective.”
