Being Gay in Professional Soccer: A Toxic Environment
“We've got mountains to do” - the athlete on homophobia in football
“You shouldn't exist” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”
After announcing he was gay in 2021, footballer Josh Cavallo has received daily death threats and hateful comments on online platforms.
“When I first saw these messages, it broke my heart,” Cavallo states. “No-one wants to read things like that.
“I'm trying to get better as a player and be the best I can be during matches, and then get put down 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 elite soccer player in the world.
Recently he left Australia to join lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in National League North, 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 using his profile - he has more than one million followers on Instagram - to promote fairness and inclusion.
“Absolutely, there's enormous work ahead,” the footballer comments when asked if football still has a problem with homophobia.
“I don't go more than a week without hearing about an issue.”
‘Individuals wish to hurt me’
The player was raised in Melbourne
Several years passed for the athlete to work up the courage to say “I'm gay” before revealing his sexuality on October 27th, 2021.
“My only desire is play football and be treated equally,” he said in an accompanying video.
The player was twenty-one and making a name for himself at his Australian club in the premier division when, backed by his colleagues, he publicly came out.
“The future was uncertain. I had no expectations,” he recalls. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”
His emotional coming out video, entitled ‘Josh's Truth’, went viral on social media.
“My mobile phone exploded with encouraging words. The response was incredible.”
A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to express support for Cavallo, with then manager the German manager saying: “I appreciate that he took this step because it sparks conversation.”
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique also offered support, posting online that “the world of football is far behind and your actions drive progress”, while Adelaide United issued a statement supporting their “extraordinary” and “brave” 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 A$5,000 over anti-gay abuse from fans directed at the player during a match.
“The comments I encountered were hurtful and disparaging towards LGBTQ people,” he says.
“I remained calm because responding would encourage detractors.”
A scary event occurred at a petrol station in Australia, where the athlete was assaulted by someone who recognised him from the coverage.
“It was terrifying,” he remembers. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is real - individuals intend to hurt me’.
“Should this be tolerated? Absolutely not. But by coming out, this is what it brings.
“I hope that the next person who comes out while competing in soccer at a high level won't face the journey I have experienced.”
The player says the daily death threats and abusive messages have affected his psychological well-being.
“It's quite sad because I am having to explain why I belong on the football field for my identity,” he says.
“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘why should you exist in football?’.
“A lot of people see me as a cheerful, optimistic person. But sometimes when I rely on my partner, Leighton, and he gets to see a lot that happens privately.”
‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’
Cavallo's decision to disclose his orientation helped inspire teenage Blackpool forward Jake Daniels to come out as the Britain's sole publicly out active male professional footballer in May 2022.
However, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the top English division.
“It would create massive change,” comments the footballer on the impact a elite athlete revealing their orientation would make.
“But I must be honest. There are a lot of scary things that would come this person's way. Within soccer culture, being an openly gay player is a highly hostile environment.”
Over two decades after a pioneering player - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - took his own life in 1998, the current athlete has spoken about the “toxic masculinity” that still exists in men's football.
“You just need to go to a match and observe the hostile environment and masculinity that the audience creates,” he explains.
“Much remains to be done to ensure there is a secure environment in football for individuals like me and Jake.
“Progress has been limited (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as frequently as desired.
“My role is to continue advocating for what I think is right, and strive for taking out the toxic masculinity in football changing rooms and establishing secure environments.”
‘My mission is to drive progress’
The athlete was awarded an honorary degree from an academic institution in Adelaide in 2022, recognising his contributions as a inspirational figure in athletics and a champion for equality
The player says soccer has enabled discussions inside dressing rooms about revealing one's orientation.
However, he is critical of Fifa, after the Middle Eastern nation, where same-sex relationships are illegal, staged the global tournament in 2022.
Future World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is also illegal.
“Am I impressed that the global championship is in nations that ban gay unions, where people like me will be put in prison for just existing on that land? It's frightening,” says the athlete.
“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 breaks my heart that individuals are incarcerated for their true selves.
“There are countries that are significant soccer markets and they don't accept LGBTQ+ people. Those are the countries that tend to target me.”
Despite this, the footballer says he won't cease advocating.
“Football has allowed me to start conversations in the locker room. It has allowed me to speak and inform individuals who want to learn more.
“Some will disapprove for your identity. But I've discovered support. I've connected with similar people.
“My purpose is to create change. That's what I'm here for.”
