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

After announcing his homosexuality in 2021, footballer the athlete has faced constant threats and hateful comments on online platforms.

“When I first saw these messages, I was devastated,” Cavallo 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 face criticism because of who I am. It's appalling.”

Midfielder Cavallo was at Adelaide United back in 2020 when he became the only openly gay top-flight male professional footballer in the world.

Recently he departed from Australia to join non-league Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in National League North, the sixth tier of the English soccer system.

This young athlete balances his sports career for the semi-professional team by advocating for inclusion matters and using his profile - boasting over a million followers on Instagram - to champion equality and inclusion.

“Absolutely, there's enormous work ahead,” Cavallo says when asked if football still has a problem with homophobia.

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

‘Individuals wish to hurt me’

Several years passed for the athlete to work up the courage to say “I'm gay” before revealing his sexuality on 27 October 2021.

“All I want to do is compete in soccer and receive fair treatment,” he stated in an accompanying video.

Cavallo was twenty-one and making a name for himself at his Australian club in the premier division when, with the support of his team-mates, he publicly came out.

“I didn't know what was ahead. I had no expectations,” he says. “It felt like the right time in my life. I needed to move forward.”

The heartfelt revelation clip, titled ‘Josh's Truth’, gained massive attention on digital platforms.

“My mobile phone exploded with messages of support. It was overwhelming.”

A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to express support for the player, with the coach at the time Jurgen Klopp saying: “I'm really thankful that he took this step because it sparks conversation.”

Barcelona defender the athlete also offered support, writing on social media that “soccer culture is far behind and you are helping us move forward”, while his former club issued a statement backing their “remarkable” and “brave” player.

Some people, however, were not so accepting.

The footballer quickly became a target of homophobic abuse by opposition fans.

During early 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from fans aimed toward Cavallo during a game.

“The things I'd hear were hurtful and derogatory towards my community,” he explains.

“I remained calm because I knew that would only feed the haters.”

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

“That was a scary moment,” he remembers. “I remember thinking ‘this is happening - people want to harm me’.

“Should this be tolerated? Absolutely not. But through my disclosure, this is what it brings.

“My wish is that future individuals who reveals their orientation while competing in soccer at a professional standard won't face the path I have experienced.”

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

“It's quite sad because I am having to explain why I belong on the football field for being who I am,” he states.

“Heterosexual players aren't questioned and ask ‘what gives you the right in football?’.

“A lot of people see me as a smiling, optimistic person. But sometimes when I rely on my partner, his name, and he gets to see much of what occurs behind the scenes.”

‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’

Cavallo's decision to reveal his sexuality helped inspire teenage attacking player Jake Daniels to announce he was gay as the UK's only openly gay active male professional footballer in spring 2022.

Nevertheless, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the top English division.

“It would create massive change,” says the footballer on the effect a Premier League player coming out would make.

“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. There are a lot of scary things that would await this individual. In the world of football, identifying as LGBTQ is a highly hostile environment.”

Twenty-seven years after a pioneering player - the UK's initial out soccer professional - took his own life in 1998, Cavallo has spoken about the “harmful male culture” that still exists in men's football.

“Simply attend to a game and see the unfriendly atmosphere and masculinity that the crowd brings,” he explains.

“Much remains to be done to ensure there is a safe space in football for people like myself and Jake.

“We haven't seen it (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as much as we would like.

“I can only keep pushing for principles I believe in, and work towards eliminating the harmful male norms in football changing rooms and creating a safe space.”

‘I'm here to create change’

The player says football has enabled discussions inside dressing rooms about revealing one's orientation.

However, he is disapproving toward Fifa, after Qatar, where homosexual partnerships are illegal, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.

The 2034 tournament will be held in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is similarly prohibited.

“Do I approve that the World Cup is in countries that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be put in prison for just existing on their territory? It's scary,” says Cavallo.

“I get messages [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for being who I am - is assistance possible?’.

“It breaks my heart that individuals are incarcerated for being who they are.

“There are countries that are significant soccer markets and they don't accept the queer community. Those are the countries that often focus on me.”

Despite this, Cavallo says he will not stop speaking up.

“Football has enabled dialogue in the locker room. It lets me communicate and educate people who want to learn more.

“Not everyone is going to like you for your identity. But I've discovered support. I have found my community.

“My mission is to create change. That's what I'm here for.”