Australian footballer Josh Cavallo has spoken candidly about the ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQ+ players in men’s football, saying there are still “mountains” of work to be done to combat homophobia in the sport.
In a revealing interview with BBC Sport, the 25-year-old midfielder reflected on life as one of the few openly gay male footballers in the world. Since publicly coming out in 2021, Cavallo has become an outspoken advocate for queer representation in sport – but admits the journey has come with significant personal risk.
Now playing for Peterborough Sports in England’s non-league system, Cavallo shared:
“In the world of football, being an openly gay player is a very toxic place.”
‘I Receive Death Threats Daily’
Cavallo revealed that the abuse he receives is frequent and serious.
“I don’t go more than a week without hearing about an issue,” he said. “We’ve got mountains to do.”
He also admitted to receiving “multiple death threats” every day since coming out.
In January 2022, Melbourne Victory was fined $5,000 AUD after its fans directed homophobic slurs at Cavallo during a match against his former team, Adelaide United.
Recalling the incident, he said:
“The things I’d hear were hurtful and derogatory towards my community. I didn’t react because I knew that would only feed the haters.”
Visibility Still Comes with Risks
Cavallo highlighted the intense pressure and dangers that could come with an openly gay player joining top-tier leagues like the Premier League.
“It would move mountains to have openly gay or bisexual players in the Premier League,” he said.
“But I’m not going to sugar-coat it. There are a lot of scary things that would come this person’s way.”
His words echo the tragic history of Justin Fashanu, who became the first professional footballer to come out as gay in 1990. Fashanu endured relentless harassment from the British press and died by suicide in 1998 — a story that still looms large over conversations about homophobia in the sport.
Finding Belonging in Peterborough
Despite the challenges, Cavallo shared that his move to Peterborough Sports has been a positive experience.
“Everyone has been nice. The respect is there,” he said.
“I had offers in other countries before coming to Peterborough. It wasn’t about picking the club playing at the highest level. It was about finding a club where I was going to be comfortable. The way Peterborough Sports was sold to me was something I could be comfortable with and be who I am off the pitch.”
While toxic masculinity may still be present in many corners of the game, Cavallo’s courage continues to challenge the status quo – offering hope that future generations of LGBTQ+ players will be able to play, thrive, and live authentically.
