Being Gay in Professional Soccer: A Toxic Environment
“There's still so much to accomplish” - the athlete on homophobia in football
“You don't belong on this earth” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Stop breathing.”
Since revealing he was gay in 2021, footballer Josh Cavallo has faced constant threats and hateful comments on online platforms.
“Upon reading those comments, it broke my heart,” Cavallo explains. “No-one wants to read things like that.
“I'm working to improve my skills and be the best I can be on the pitch, and then get put down due to my identity. It's appalling.”
Midfielder 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.
This summer he departed from Australia to sign with lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in National League North, the sixth tier of English football.
This young athlete balances his sports career for the semi-professional team by advocating for LGBTQ+ issues and using his profile - boasting over a million followers on social media - to promote fairness and inclusion.
“Absolutely, we've got mountains to do,” the footballer comments when questioned about ongoing issues with homophobia.
“I don't go more than a week without hearing about an issue.”
‘People want to harm me’
The player was raised in Melbourne
It took years for Cavallo to build up the bravery to say “I'm gay” before revealing his sexuality on October 27th, 2021.
“My only desire is play football and be treated equally,” he stated in an accompanying video.
The player was twenty-one and building his reputation at Adelaide United in Australia's top flight 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. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I needed to move forward.”
His emotional coming out video, titled ‘Josh's Truth’, gained massive attention on digital platforms.
“My mobile phone exploded with messages of support. The response was incredible.”
Liverpool were among numerous famous teams around the world to express support for Cavallo, with then manager Jurgen Klopp saying: “I appreciate that he did it because it sparks conversation.”
Barcelona defender the athlete 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 backing their “extraordinary” and “courageous” player.
Others, however, were not so accepting.
Cavallo quickly became a subject to homophobic abuse by rival supporters.
In January 2022 Melbourne Victory were penalized A$5,000 over anti-gay abuse from spectators directed at Cavallo during a game.
“The comments I encountered were painful and derogatory towards LGBTQ people,” he explains.
“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 physically attacked by someone who recognised him from the media attention.
“That was a scary moment,” he remembers. “I remember thinking ‘this is real - individuals intend to hurt me’.
“Should this be tolerated? Absolutely not. But through my disclosure, this is what it brings.
“My wish is that future individuals who comes out while playing football at a professional standard won't face the path I have experienced.”
The player says the constant menacing messages and hostile communications have taken a toll on his psychological well-being.
“It's disappointing because I must justify why I deserve a place on the soccer pitch for being who I am,” he states.
“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘why should you exist in football?’.
“A lot of people see me as a smiling, positive person. But there are days when I lean on my fiance, his name, and he witnesses a lot that happens behind the scenes.”
‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’
The player's choice to reveal his sexuality helped inspire teenage Blackpool forward another athlete to announce he was gay as the Britain's sole publicly out active male professional footballer in May 2022.
However, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the top English division.
“It would move mountains,” comments Cavallo on the impact a elite athlete coming out would make.
“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. Numerous frightening aspects that would come this person's way. Within soccer culture, being an openly gay player is a highly hostile environment.”
Twenty-seven years after a pioneering player - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - died by suicide in 1998, the current athlete has discussed the “harmful male culture” that still exists in professional soccer.
“You just need to go to a game and see the unfriendly atmosphere and male-dominated culture that the audience creates,” he says.
“There is still a lot of work to make sure there is a secure environment in soccer for individuals like me and his colleague.
“We haven't seen it (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as frequently as desired.
“I can only keep pushing for what I think is right, and strive for taking out the harmful male norms in football changing rooms and establishing secure environments.”
‘I'm here to create change’
Cavallo received an honorary doctorate from an academic institution in Adelaide in 2022, honoring his efforts as a inspirational figure in athletics and a champion for equality
Cavallo says soccer has enabled discussions inside dressing rooms about revealing one's orientation.
Yet, he is disapproving toward Fifa, after the Middle Eastern nation, where same-sex relationships are against the law, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.
Future World Cup is scheduled in another Gulf state, where same-sex attraction is similarly prohibited.
“Do I approve that the World Cup is in nations that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be imprisoned for merely living on their territory? It's frightening,” says Cavallo.
“I get messages [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for being who I am - can you help me?’.
“It breaks my heart that individuals are incarcerated for being who they are.
“There are countries that are huge in terms of football and they reject LGBTQ+ people. These places that tend to target me.”
Despite this, Cavallo says he won't cease advocating.
“Soccer has allowed me to start conversations in the changing room. It has allowed me to speak and educate people who want to learn more.
“Some will disapprove for your identity. But I've discovered support. I've connected with similar people.
“My mission is to drive progress. That's my objective.”
