Josh Cavallo, the first openly gay player in Australia’s domestic soccer league, has revealed that he continues to face death threats four years after publicly coming out about his sexuality.
Cavallo, who plays for Adelaide United in the A-League, shared his experiences on the FIFPro Footballers Unfiltered podcast, describing the football world as “a very toxic place” for gay players. He expressed concern that the sport is still a long way from fully accepting LGBTQ+ players.
At 21, Cavallo came out in 2021, acknowledging that his announcement shocked the football world. Although he views the decision as “the best move and decision” of his life, he admits that it came with significant challenges.
During the podcast, Cavallo reflected on the difficulty of being an openly gay player in professional sports, pointing out the constant negativity he faces, including multiple daily death threats. He expressed sadness over the persistent hostility and lack of progress in creating a safe space for gay athletes in football.
Cavallo did not provide specifics about the online threats he receives but continues to train and compete as a professional footballer every week.
Cavallo shared that he has a strong support system and, despite having both good and bad days, he feels free. “I go to bed, I put my head on the pillow and I’m happy. I’m Josh Cavallo, I’m the footballer … the gay footballer, and I’m super proud to say that,” he said.
He also mentioned in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that he still receives positive feedback from people who tell him his advocacy has inspired and encouraged them. In his daily life, Cavallo said he often meets people who acknowledge his impact, sharing how he has given them the courage to come out at school.
However, he also noted the darker side, stating that when he opened his social media that morning, he found it disturbing to read the hateful comments directed at him.
Cavallo mentioned that when his club released the video of his announcement in 2021, it shifted perspectives worldwide. However, he believes there is still much work to be done to eliminate the fear of public backlash for other players who might consider coming out.
He reflected, saying, “It’s obviously influenced a lot of people and made so much progression within the game,” and added that he wouldn’t trade his journey for anything.
In 2022, Cavallo reported experiencing homophobic abuse during a match, and he stated that this abuse continues on social media. He expressed that he doesn’t like to focus on these negative experiences, as it might discourage others from coming out. He pointed out that while his 2021 decision was a significant milestone for him and the LGBTQ+ community, homophobic abuse is still a daily challenge even after four years.
Peter Malinauskas, the Premier of South Australia, where Adelaide United is based, condemned the abuse Cavallo has faced, calling it “beyond awful” and “unacceptable.” He emphasized that it shows a level of cowardice that exists in society and praised Cavallo for his bravery.
