Homosexuality in football: Professional Josh Cavallo reveals death threats

Josh Cavallo, football professional at Adelaide United, was the first active male football player in Australia to make his homosexuality public. In October 2021 he wrote on his Instagram channel: “I am proud to announce that I am gay.”

But now the football professional reports in the “Footballers unfiltered” podcast with the English ex-international Joe Hart that he has been faced with massive hostility since his coming out and even gets “daily death threats”. Because of his experience in recent years, it is difficult to encourage other footballers to commit themselves to their homosexuality. The world of football is a “very toxic place for gay professionals,” he revealed.

“It’s pretty sad. In the world of football it is very stressful to be an open gay player,” he explained. Not everyone can handle and go through that.

Despite the daily threats, Cavallo regretted not to have gone to the public with his homosexuality earlier. He described how relieving the moment of the coming out was for him at the time. He was tired of having to hide. Nevertheless, he knew today that it is still a long way to completely accept homosexuality in football.

Nevertheless, Cavallo looks hopefully into the future and believes that there is a place for people like me in football. He was proud to represent the LGBTQ+ community, revealed the Adelaide soccer professional. He hoped that there will be many more in the future.