Josh Cavallo: “Being gay in men’s football is a very toxic place”
– 3 min read
Openly gay top-flight male footballer Josh Cavallo has spoken candidly in a BBC interview about the ongoing abuse and hostility he faces within the sport, describing men’s football as “a very toxic place” for gay players.
Since coming out in 2021, Cavallo has received daily death threats and homophobic abuse, both online and in person. “When I first saw these messages, it broke my heart,” he told BBC Sport. “I’m trying to get better as a player and be the best I can be on the pitch, and then get put down because of who I am as a person. It’s disgusting.”
Now 25, Cavallo recently moved from Australia to join Peterborough Sports, a non-league club in England’s National League North. Despite stepping away from the top tier, he continues to use his platform - bolstered by over a million Instagram followers - to advocate for equality and inclusion in football.
Cavallo’s emotional coming out video, Josh’s Truth, went viral in 2021, earning widespread praise from clubs and players around the world. Liverpool’s then-manager Jürgen Klopp and Barcelona’s Gerard Piqué were among those who voiced their support. But the praise was not universal.
Josh Cavallo: ‘Football still has an issue with homophobia’
Josh Cavallo, who plays for Peterborough Sports in Australia and came out as gay in 2021, tells BBC Sport football has “mountains to do” in tackling homophobia in the game.
He has been the target of homophobic chants from opposition fans, and in one disturbing incident, was physically attacked at a petrol station in Australia. “That was a scary moment,” he recalled. “I remember thinking, ‘this is real - people want to harm me’.”
Despite the abuse, Cavallo remains committed to being a visible advocate. “I hope the next person who comes out while playing football at a high level doesn’t have to experience the path I have experienced.”
Cavallo believes football still has a long way to go in tackling homophobia. “Absolutely, we’ve got mountains to do,” he said. “I don’t go more than a week without hearing about an issue.”
He points to the lack of openly gay players in the Premier League as evidence of the sport’s ongoing struggle. “It would move mountains,” he said of the potential impact of a Premier League player coming out. “But I’m not going to sugar-coat it. There are a lot of scary things that would come this person’s way.”
Cavallo also criticised FIFA for awarding World Cups to countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is illegal. “Am I impressed that the World Cup is in countries that criminalise same-sex marriages? It’s scary,” he said. “I get messages from people saying, ‘I’m about to be put in prison for being who I am - can you help me?’”
Despite the challenges, Cavallo says he has found strength in his community and his fiancé, Leighton, whom he proposed to on the pitch in 2024. “A lot of people see me as a smiling, positive person. But there are days when I lean on Leighton, and he gets to see a lot that happens behind the scenes.”
At Peterborough Sports, Cavallo has been warmly welcomed. “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,” he said.
His message remains clear: “My purpose is to create change. That’s what I’m here for.”
