Australia's first openly gay footballer, Josh Cavallo, said he would find it difficult to encourage other footballers to come out because of the sport's "toxic" environment.
Josh cavallo, the first openly gay Australian footballer, has stated that he receives multiple death threats every day and that he would find it difficult to encourage other footballers to come out due to the "toxic" environment of the sport.
The footballer and midfielder of Adelaide United came out of the closet in 2021 and stated that, despite the support of his club and coaches, his outspokenness had brought him too much pressure and negativity.There are many, many, many death threats that continue to come in daily. And it's quite sad.", he stated in the podcast FIFPRO Footballers Unfiltered.
«I still have to endure multiple death threats every day, and it's sad. In the world of football, being openly gay is toxic. I can assure you that not everyone would be able to handle it.", he explains. "I still think we are very, very far from acceptance in this area.", it is finished.
Daily threats
«These are factors people will consider when coming out. They may not be out now, but coming out attracts all this attention, all this pressure, all this negativity that will affect their game in the long run.", he clarified.
Horse He claims to have received homophobic insults from the public – playing in the Adelaide–, which is why he has reported the problem on social media.It's hard to tell people: Of course, come out, be yourself.«. He also stressed the importance of having a support net around it as a form of "build a wall» to protect themselves from abuse.
He also mentioned that he wishes he had come out sooner, instead of waiting until he was 21, because he felt like he was living a lie:I was tired of being hidden and having to go around hiding from people and not living my authentic self.«.
«And then I wondered: Why hasn't this happened in football? Why hasn't anyone come out to be themselves, be successful, and play?", he comments. "And now I understand looking back, all the negativity, all the things that come your way»He concludes.
