First openly gay soccer pro receives ‘death threats daily’

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As the first openly gay professional soccer player, Josh Cavallo is seen as a trailblazer.

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However, almost four years after coming out, he’s having a hard time telling others to follow his path.

The Adelaide United midfielder said he that he receives multiple death threats every day and the sport’s “toxic” environment makes it difficult to encourage others.

Cavallo, who came out in Oct. 2021, said that despite support from his club and coaches, his openness about his sexuality brought a lot of pressure and negativity.

“There’s multiple, multiple, multiple death threats that come my way daily still and it’s quite sad to see,” he told FIFPRO’s Footballers Unfiltered podcast this week.

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“In the world of football, being an openly gay player is a very toxic place. It’s something that not everyone would be able to handle and go through.

“I still think we’re a very, very long way from acceptance in this space.

“So, these are factors that people will consider in their coming out and they might not be out now, but coming out brings all this attention, it brings all this pressure, brings all this negativity that will affect their game in the long run.”

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The Aussie has received homophobic abuse from crowds when playing in the A-League and has been vocal about the problem on social media.

“It’s difficult to say to people, ‘Absolutely, come out, be yourself,’” he said. “But it also comes with a mountain of downsides as well that I don’t think people realize.”

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Despite the difficulties and negativity he has faced, Cavallo said that he wished he had come out earlier, rather than waiting until he was 21, because he felt himself living a lie.

“I was tired of being hidden and tired of having to go around and hide from people and not live my authentic self,” he said.

“And then I would be like why hasn’t this happened in football? Why hasn’t no one ever came out to be themselves and be successful and play.

“And I understand that now looking back, all the negativity, all the things that come your way.”

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