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First openly gay male footballer reveals daily death threats

Josh Cavallo, the first openly gay male active footballer, revealed that he receives multiple death threats every day.

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Openly gay male footballer receives death threats every day

The midfielder, who came out in October 2021, said that despite the support from his club and coaches, his openness about his sexuality had brought him significant 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.

“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.”

Cavallo has received homophobic abuse from football crowds while playing for Adelaide.

“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 realise.”

“Tired of being hidden”

Cavallo said that having a strong support system around him has helped him “put up a wall” to protect himself from abuse.

Meanwhile, he also expressed regret about not coming out earlier, saying he wished he hadn’t waited until he was 21, as he had felt like he was 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.”