🔗 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 hateful comments on social media.

“When I first saw these messages, I was devastated,” the player explains. “Nobody should have to endure such words.

“I'm trying to get better as a player and reach my full potential during matches, and then get put down due to my identity. It's disgusting.”

Midfielder the sportsman was at Adelaide United four years ago when he became the only openly gay elite soccer player in the world.

This summer he departed from Australia to join non-league Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in the sixth division, one level below of English football.

This young athlete combines playing for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by speaking up on 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 comments when asked if football still has a problem with discrimination.

“Rarely a week passes without encountering problems.”

‘People want to harm me’

It took years for the athlete to build up the bravery to say “I'm gay” before revealing his sexuality on 27 October 2021.

“All I want to do is play football and be treated equally,” he said in an related clip.

The player was 21 and building his reputation at Adelaide United in Australia's top flight when, backed by his colleagues, he publicly came out.

“The future was uncertain. I had no expectations,” he says. “It felt like the right time in my life. I needed to move forward.”

His emotional coming out video, titled ‘His Personal Story’, gained massive attention on social media.

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

A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to show solidarity with Cavallo, with the coach at the time Jurgen Klopp saying: “I'm really thankful that he did it because it sparks conversation.”

Barcelona defender the athlete also offered support, posting online that “the world of football is lagging behind and your actions drive progress”, while Adelaide United released a comment backing their “remarkable” and “courageous” player.

Others, however, were less welcoming.

Cavallo soon turned into a target of homophobic abuse by opposition fans.

In January 2022 a competing team were penalized five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from fans directed at the player during a game.

“The comments I encountered were hurtful and derogatory towards LGBTQ people,” he explains.

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

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

“That was a scary moment,” he recalls. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is happening - individuals intend to hurt me’.

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

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

Cavallo 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 being who I am,” he says.

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

“A lot of people see me as a smiling, positive person. But sometimes when I rely on my partner, Leighton, and he gets to see much of what occurs behind the scenes.”

‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’

The player's choice to disclose his orientation helped prompt 17-year-old attacking player another athlete to announce he was gay as the Britain's sole publicly out active male professional footballer in spring 2022.

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

“It would create massive change,” comments Cavallo on the impact a elite athlete revealing their orientation would make.

“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. There are a lot of scary things that would come this person's way. Within soccer culture, identifying as LGBTQ is a highly hostile environment.”

Twenty-seven years after Justin Fashanu - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - took his own life in 1998, the current athlete has spoken about the “toxic masculinity” that persists in men's football.

“Simply attend to a game and observe the hostile environment and masculinity that the crowd brings,” he explains.

“There is still a lot of work to ensure there is a secure environment in football for people like myself and his colleague.

“Progress has been limited (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as frequently as desired.

“I can only keep pushing for principles I believe in, and strive for taking out the harmful male norms in football changing rooms and establishing secure environments.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

Cavallo says football has allowed him to have conversations inside dressing rooms about coming out.

However, he is disapproving toward soccer's global governing body, after the Middle Eastern nation, where same-sex relationships are illegal, staged the global tournament in 2022.

The 2034 tournament is scheduled in another Gulf state, where homosexuality is also illegal.

“Am I impressed that the World Cup is in nations that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be put in prison for just existing on that land? It's frightening,” states the athlete.

“I get messages [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I face imprisonment for being who I am - can you help me?’.

“It breaks my heart that individuals are incarcerated for their true selves.

“Certain nations that are significant soccer markets and they reject the queer community. These places that often focus on me.”

Nevertheless, the footballer says he won't cease advocating.

“Soccer has enabled dialogue in the changing room. It lets me communicate and educate people who want to learn more.

“Some will disapprove for who you are. But I have found my family. I've connected with similar people.

“My purpose is to drive progress. That's what I'm here for.”