🔗 Share this article

“You shouldn't exist” ... “What are you doing here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”

After announcing he was gay in 2021, footballer the athlete has faced constant threats and abusive messages on online platforms.

“Upon reading those comments, I was devastated,” Cavallo states. “No-one wants to read things like that.

“I'm working to improve my skills and reach my full potential on the pitch, and then get put down because of who I am. It's appalling.”

Player Cavallo was playing for Adelaide United back in 2020 when he became the only openly gay elite soccer player in the world.

Recently he departed from Australia to join non-league 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 speaking up on LGBTQ+ issues and leveraging his platform - boasting over a million followers on Instagram - to champion equality and inclusion.

“Definitely, there's enormous work ahead,” the footballer says when asked if football still has a problem with discrimination.

“I don't go more than a week 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 coming out on 27 October 2021.

“My only desire is play football and receive fair treatment,” he said in an related clip.

The player was 21 and making a name for himself at Adelaide United in the premier division when, with the support of his team-mates, he announced his orientation publicly.

“The future was uncertain. I had no expectations,” he recalls. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”

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

“My phone was flooded with encouraging words. It was overwhelming.”

A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to express support for the player, with the coach at the time Jurgen Klopp saying: “I'm really thankful that he did it because now we talk again.”

Spanish player Gerard Pique also offered support, posting online that “the world of football is lagging behind and you are helping us move forward”, while his former club issued a statement backing their “remarkable” and “brave” player.

Some people, however, were less welcoming.

Cavallo quickly became a subject to homophobic abuse by opposition fans.

During early 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from spectators aimed toward the player during a match.

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

“I didn't react because responding would encourage detractors.”

There was a frightening incident at a gas station in Australia, where the athlete was physically attacked by an individual who identified him from the media attention.

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

“Is it acceptable? Absolutely not. But by coming out, this is what it brings.

“My wish is that future individuals who comes out while playing football at a professional standard doesn't have to experience the path I have experienced.”

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

“It's quite sad because I am having to explain why I deserve a place on the soccer pitch for my identity,” he states.

“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘why should you exist in football?’.

“Many individuals see me as a smiling, optimistic person. But sometimes when I rely on my partner, his name, and he gets to see much of what occurs privately.”

‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’

The player's choice to disclose his orientation helped prompt teenage Blackpool forward Jake Daniels to come out as the UK's only openly gay playing soccer professional in spring 2022.

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

“It would move mountains,” says Cavallo on the impact a elite athlete revealing their orientation would make.

“But I must be honest. Numerous frightening aspects that would come this person's way. In the world of football, being an openly gay player is a very toxic place.”

Over two decades after a pioneering player - the UK's initial out soccer professional - died by suicide in 1998, Cavallo has spoken about the “toxic masculinity” that persists in professional soccer.

“Simply attend to a game and see the unfriendly atmosphere and masculinity that the audience creates,” he explains.

“Much remains to be done to ensure there is a secure environment in soccer for people like myself and his colleague.

“We haven't seen it (more players coming out) as frequently as desired.

“I can only keep pushing for principles I believe in, and strive for eliminating the toxic masculinity in football changing rooms and establishing secure environments.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

The player says soccer has allowed him to have conversations within team environments about revealing one's orientation.

However, he is disapproving toward soccer's global governing body, after Qatar, where homosexual partnerships are illegal, staged the global tournament in 2022.

Future World Cup is scheduled in another Gulf state, where same-sex attraction is also illegal.

“Do I approve that the global championship is in nations that criminalise same-sex marriages, where individuals like myself will be imprisoned for merely living on that land? It's scary,” states Cavallo.

“I receive communications [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for my identity - 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 don't accept LGBTQ+ people. Those are the countries that often focus on me.”

Despite this, the footballer says he won't cease advocating.

“Soccer has enabled dialogue in the changing 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 drive progress. That's what I'm here for.”