Being Gay in Men's Football: A Toxic Environment

“You don't belong on this earth” ... “What are you doing here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”

Since revealing he was gay in 2021, player Josh Cavallo has received daily death threats and hateful comments on online platforms.

“Upon reading those comments, I was devastated,” 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 disgusting.”

Player the sportsman was at 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 non-league Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in National League North, one level below of the English soccer system.

The 25-year-old combines playing for the semi-professional team by speaking up on LGBTQ+ issues and using his profile - boasting over a million followers on Instagram - to champion equality and acceptance.

“Definitely, 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’

It took years for Cavallo to build up the bravery to say “I am homosexual” before coming out on 27 October 2021.

“All I want to do is compete in soccer and receive fair treatment,” he said in an accompanying video.

Cavallo was 21 and making a name for himself at Adelaide United in the premier division when, backed by his colleagues, he publicly came out.

“I didn't know what was ahead. 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 ‘His Personal Story’, went viral on social media.

“My mobile phone exploded with encouraging words. The response was incredible.”

Liverpool were one of many high-profile clubs around the world to show solidarity with the player, with the coach at the time Jurgen Klopp saying: “I appreciate that he did it because now we talk again.”

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

Some people, however, were less welcoming.

Cavallo quickly became a target of anti-gay remarks by rival supporters.

In January 2022 a competing team were fined five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from spectators directed at the player during a match.

“The comments I encountered were hurtful and disparaging towards my community,” he says.

“I remained calm because responding would encourage detractors.”

A scary event occurred at a gas station in Australia, where Cavallo was physically attacked by someone who recognised him from the media attention.

“It was terrifying,” he remembers. “I remember thinking ‘this is real - people want to harm me’.

“Is it acceptable? Absolutely not. But through my disclosure, these are the consequences.

“I hope that the next person who reveals their orientation while playing football at a high level doesn't have to experience the path I have endured.”

The player says the constant menacing messages and abusive messages have affected his psychological well-being.

“It's quite sad because I must justify why I deserve a place on the football field 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, positive person. But sometimes when I lean on my fiance, Leighton, and he gets to see a lot that happens privately.”

‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’

Cavallo's decision to reveal his sexuality helped inspire teenage attacking player another athlete to come out as the UK's only openly gay active male professional footballer in spring 2022.

Nevertheless, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the Premier League.

“It would create massive change,” comments the footballer on the effect a Premier League player revealing their orientation would have.

“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.”

Over two decades after Justin Fashanu - 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 men's football.

“You just need to go to a game and observe the unfriendly atmosphere and masculinity that the crowd brings,” 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 much as we would like.

“I can only keep pushing for principles I believe in, and work towards eliminating the harmful male norms in soccer locker rooms and establishing secure environments.”

‘I'm here to create change’

The player says football has enabled discussions within team environments about coming out.

However, he is critical of Fifa, after the Middle Eastern nation, where homosexual partnerships are against the law, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.

The 2034 tournament 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 people like me will be imprisoned for just existing on that land? It's frightening,” states Cavallo.

“I get messages [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I face imprisonment for my identity - 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 reject the queer community. These places that often focus on me.”

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

“Soccer has allowed me to start conversations in the locker room. It lets me communicate and educate people who want to learn more.

“Some will disapprove for your identity. But I have found my family. I have found my community.

“My mission is to create change. That's what I'm here for.”