Identifying as LGBTQ+ in Men's Football: A Toxic Environment

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

After announcing his homosexuality in 2021, footballer Josh Cavallo has received daily death threats and hateful comments on social media.

“When I first saw these messages, it broke my heart,” Cavallo states. “No-one wants to read things like that.

“I'm working to improve my skills and reach my full potential during matches, and then get put down due to my identity. It's appalling.”

Midfielder Cavallo was at Adelaide United four years ago when he became the only openly gay 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.

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

“Absolutely, there's enormous work ahead,” Cavallo says when questioned about ongoing issues with discrimination.

“I don't go more than a week without hearing about an issue.”

‘Individuals wish to hurt me’

Several years passed for the athlete to work up the courage 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 building his reputation at Adelaide United in the premier division when, with the support of his team-mates, he publicly came out.

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

His emotional coming out video, titled ‘Josh's Truth’, gained massive attention on social media.

“My phone was flooded with messages of support. The response was incredible.”

A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to show solidarity with Cavallo, with then manager the German manager saying: “I appreciate that he did it because it sparks conversation.”

Barcelona defender the athlete also expressed backing, writing on social media that “the world of football is lagging behind and your actions drive progress”, while Adelaide United issued a statement supporting their “extraordinary” and “brave” player.

Some people, however, were not so accepting.

Cavallo soon turned into a subject to homophobic abuse by opposition fans.

During early 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined A$5,000 over discriminatory chants from spectators aimed toward the player during a game.

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

“I didn't react because I knew that would only feed the haters.”

There was a frightening incident at a petrol station in Australia, where Cavallo was physically attacked by an individual who identified him from the coverage.

“It was terrifying,” he remembers. “I remember thinking ‘this is happening - individuals intend to hurt me’.

“Should this be tolerated? Absolutely not. But through my disclosure, these are the consequences.

“My wish is that the next person who reveals their orientation while playing football at a high level won't face the journey I have experienced.”

The player says the daily death threats and abusive messages have taken a toll on his psychological well-being.

“It's disappointing because I must justify why I deserve a place on the football field for being who I am,” he says.

“Heterosexual players aren't questioned and ask ‘what gives you the right in football?’.

“Many individuals see me as a smiling, positive person. But sometimes when I lean on my fiance, his name, and he gets to see much of what occurs behind the scenes.”

‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’

Cavallo's decision to disclose his orientation helped prompt 17-year-old Blackpool forward Jake Daniels to come out as the UK's only openly gay playing soccer professional in spring 2022.

Nevertheless, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the Premier League.

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

“But I must be honest. Numerous frightening aspects that would await this individual. Within soccer culture, identifying as LGBTQ is a very toxic place.”

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 “toxic masculinity” that still exists in professional soccer.

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

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

“We haven't seen it (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as frequently as desired.

“My role is to continue advocating for what I think is right, and work towards eliminating the harmful male norms in soccer locker rooms and establishing secure environments.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

Cavallo says football has allowed him to have conversations within team environments about coming out.

Yet, he is critical of 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 Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is similarly prohibited.

“Am I impressed that the global championship is in countries that criminalise same-sex marriages, where people like me will be put in prison for just existing on that land? It's scary,” states the athlete.

“I receive communications [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I face imprisonment for my identity - can you help me?’.

“It's devastating that people are getting locked up 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.”

Nevertheless, Cavallo says he will not stop speaking up.

“Soccer has enabled dialogue in the changing room. It has allowed me to speak and inform individuals who seek understanding.

“Some will disapprove for who you are. But I've discovered support. I have found my community.

“My mission is to create change. That's my objective.”