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

“You don't belong on this earth” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Stop breathing.”

Since revealing his homosexuality in 2021, player the athlete has faced constant threats and hateful comments on online platforms.

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

“I'm working to improve my skills and be the best I can be during matches, and then get put down because of who I am. It's disgusting.”

Midfielder the sportsman was playing for Adelaide United back in 2020 when he became the only openly gay elite soccer player in the world.

Recently he departed from Australia to sign with non-league Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in the sixth division, the sixth tier of the English soccer system.

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

“Absolutely, we've got mountains to do,” the footballer comments when asked if football still has a problem with homophobia.

“Rarely a week passes without hearing about an issue.”

‘People want to harm me’

It took years for Cavallo to work up the courage to say “I am homosexual” before revealing his sexuality on October 27th, 2021.

“My only desire is compete in soccer and be treated equally,” he stated in an accompanying video.

The player was twenty-one and making a name for himself at his Australian club in the premier division when, backed by his colleagues, he publicly came out.

“I didn't know what was ahead. I didn't know what to expect,” he recalls. “It felt like the right time in my life. I needed to move forward.”

The heartfelt revelation clip, titled ‘His Personal Story’, went viral 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 express support for Cavallo, with then manager the German manager saying: “I'm really thankful that he took this step because now we talk again.”

Spanish player Gerard Pique also offered support, posting online that “the world of football is lagging behind and your actions drive progress”, while his former club issued a statement backing their “remarkable” and “brave” player.

Some people, however, were less welcoming.

Cavallo quickly became a subject to homophobic abuse by rival supporters.

During early 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined five thousand dollars over anti-gay abuse from spectators directed at Cavallo during a game.

“The comments I encountered were painful and derogatory towards LGBTQ people,” he says.

“I remained calm because responding would encourage detractors.”

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

“It was terrifying,” he recalls. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is happening - individuals intend to hurt me’.

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

“I hope that future individuals who comes out while playing football at a high level won't face the path I have endured.”

Cavallo says the daily death threats and hostile communications have affected his psychological well-being.

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

“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘what gives you the right in football?’.

“Many individuals see me as a cheerful, positive person. But there are days when I rely on my partner, his name, and he gets to see a lot that happens behind the scenes.”

‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’

The player's choice to disclose his orientation helped prompt teenage Blackpool forward Jake Daniels to announce he was gay as the UK's only openly gay playing soccer professional in spring 2022.

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

“It would create massive change,” says the footballer on the impact a Premier League player 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 - the UK's initial out soccer professional - died by suicide in 1998, Cavallo has discussed the “toxic masculinity” that still exists in men's football.

“Simply attend to a game and see 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 much as we would like.

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

‘I'm here to create change’

Cavallo says soccer has enabled discussions inside dressing rooms 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.

Future World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia, where same-sex attraction 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 merely living on their territory? It's frightening,” states Cavallo.

“I receive communications [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I face imprisonment for being who I am - is assistance possible?’.

“It breaks my heart that people are getting locked up for their true selves.

“There are countries that are huge in terms of football and they don't accept LGBTQ+ people. These places that tend to target me.”

Despite this, the footballer says he will not stop speaking up.

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

“Some will disapprove for your identity. But I've discovered support. I have found my community.

“My purpose is to drive progress. That's my objective.”