🔗 Share this article

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

Since revealing his homosexuality in 2021, player the athlete has received daily death threats and hateful comments on online platforms.

“When I first saw these messages, I was devastated,” Cavallo states. “No-one wants to read things like that.

“I'm trying to get better as a player and reach my full potential on the pitch, and then face criticism because of who I am. It's disgusting.”

Midfielder the sportsman was at Adelaide United back in 2020 when he became the only openly gay elite soccer player in the world.

This summer he left Australia to sign with non-league Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in the sixth division, one level below of English football.

This young athlete balances his sports career for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by advocating for LGBTQ+ issues and leveraging his platform - boasting over a million followers on Instagram - to promote fairness and acceptance.

“Absolutely, we've got mountains to do,” Cavallo comments when questioned about ongoing issues with discrimination.

“Rarely a week passes without encountering problems.”

‘Individuals wish to hurt me’

Several years passed for the athlete to build up the bravery 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 stated in an related clip.

Cavallo was twenty-one and building his reputation at his Australian club in the premier division when, with the support of his team-mates, he publicly came out.

“I didn't know what was ahead. I didn't know what to expect,” he says. “It felt like the right time in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”

The heartfelt revelation clip, titled ‘His Personal Story’, went viral on social media.

“My mobile phone exploded with encouraging words. It was overwhelming.”

Liverpool were among numerous famous teams around the world to express support for Cavallo, with the coach at the time the German manager saying: “I'm really thankful that he did it because now we talk again.”

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique also offered support, writing on social media that “soccer culture is lagging behind and your actions drive progress”, while his former club issued a statement supporting their “extraordinary” and “courageous” player.

Others, however, were not so accepting.

The footballer quickly became a target of homophobic abuse by rival supporters.

In January 2022 a competing team were fined five thousand dollars over anti-gay abuse from spectators aimed toward the player during a match.

“The things I'd hear were hurtful and disparaging towards my community,” he says.

“I remained calm because I knew that would only feed the haters.”

There was a frightening incident at a gas station in Australia, where Cavallo was assaulted by someone who recognised him from the media attention.

“That was a scary moment,” he remembers. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is happening - people want to harm me’.

“Should this be tolerated? Definitely not. But through my disclosure, this is what it brings.

“My wish is that future individuals who reveals their orientation while playing football at a professional standard won't face the journey I have experienced.”

The player says the daily death threats and hostile communications have taken a toll on his mental health.

“It's quite sad because I must justify why I deserve a place on the football field for my identity,” he says.

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

“A lot of people see me as a cheerful, positive person. But there are days when I rely on my partner, Leighton, and he gets to see much of what occurs privately.”

‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’

Cavallo's decision to disclose his orientation helped inspire teenage attacking player Jake Daniels to announce he was gay as the Britain's sole publicly out active male professional footballer in spring 2022.

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

“It would move mountains,” says the footballer on the impact a elite athlete coming out would have.

“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. There are a lot of scary things that would await this individual. Within soccer culture, identifying as LGBTQ 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 professional soccer.

“You just need to go to a game and observe the unfriendly atmosphere and masculinity that the crowd brings,” he explains.

“Much remains to be done to ensure there is a safe space in football for individuals like me and Jake.

“Progress has been limited (more players coming out) as frequently as desired.

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

‘I'm here to create change’

Cavallo says football has allowed him to have conversations inside dressing rooms about coming out.

Yet, he is disapproving toward soccer's global governing body, after the Middle Eastern nation, where homosexual partnerships are against the law, staged the global tournament in 2022.

The 2034 tournament will be held in another Gulf state, where homosexuality is similarly prohibited.

“Do I approve that the global championship is in nations that ban gay unions, where people like me will be put in prison for just existing on their territory? It's frightening,” says the athlete.

“I receive communications [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for being who I am - is assistance possible?’.

“It's devastating that individuals are incarcerated for being who they are.

“There are countries that are huge in terms of football and they don't accept the queer community. Those are the countries that often focus on me.”

Nevertheless, the footballer says he won't cease advocating.

“Soccer has allowed me to start conversations in the locker room. It lets me communicate and educate people who want to learn more.

“Some will disapprove for who you are. But I've discovered support. I've connected with similar people.

“My purpose is to drive progress. That's my objective.”