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“You don't belong on this earth” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”

Since revealing his homosexuality in 2021, footballer Josh Cavallo has faced constant threats and abusive messages on online platforms.

“Upon reading those comments, I was devastated,” the player explains. “Nobody should have to endure such words.

“I'm trying to get better as a player and reach my full potential during matches, and then face criticism due to my identity. It's disgusting.”

Midfielder the sportsman was at Adelaide United back in 2020 when he emerged as the sole publicly out top-flight male professional footballer in the world.

Recently he left Australia to join lower-tier club 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 combines playing for the semi-professional team by advocating for inclusion matters and leveraging his platform - 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 discrimination.

“I don't go more than a week without hearing about an issue.”

‘Individuals wish to hurt me’

It took years for Cavallo to work up the courage to say “I am homosexual” before coming out on October 27th, 2021.

“My only desire is play football and be treated equally,” he stated in an accompanying video.

The player was twenty-one and building his reputation at Adelaide United in Australia's top flight when, with the support of his team-mates, he publicly came out.

“I didn't know what was ahead. I didn't know what to expect,” he recalls. “It felt like the right time in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”

The heartfelt revelation clip, entitled ‘His Personal Story’, went viral on social media.

“My phone was flooded with encouraging words. It was overwhelming.”

A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to show solidarity with the player, with the coach at the time the German manager saying: “I appreciate that he did it because it sparks conversation.”

Barcelona defender the athlete also expressed backing, posting online that “soccer culture is lagging behind and you are helping us move forward”, while his former club released a comment supporting their “extraordinary” and “brave” player.

Others, however, were less welcoming.

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

During early 2022 a competing team were penalized A$5,000 over anti-gay abuse from fans directed at Cavallo during a game.

“The comments I encountered were painful and derogatory towards my community,” he says.

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

There was a frightening incident at a gas station in Australia, where the athlete was physically attacked by an individual who identified him from the media attention.

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

“Is it acceptable? Absolutely not. But through my disclosure, these are the consequences.

“I hope that future individuals who reveals their orientation while playing football at a professional standard doesn't have to experience the journey I have experienced.”

Cavallo says the daily death threats and hostile communications have taken a toll on his mental health.

“It's quite sad because I am having to explain why I belong on the soccer pitch for my identity,” he says.

“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘what gives you the right in football?’.

“Many individuals see me as a cheerful, optimistic person. But sometimes when I lean on my fiance, his name, and he witnesses much of what occurs privately.”

‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’

The player's choice to reveal his sexuality helped inspire 17-year-old Blackpool forward another athlete to announce he was gay as the Britain's sole publicly out active male professional footballer in May 2022.

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

“It would move mountains,” comments Cavallo on the impact a Premier League player coming out would make.

“But I must be honest. There are a lot of scary things that would come this person's way. Within soccer culture, being an openly gay player is a highly hostile environment.”

Over two decades after Justin Fashanu - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - died by suicide in 1998, Cavallo has spoken about the “harmful male culture” that still exists in men's football.

“You just need to go to a match and observe the hostile environment and male-dominated culture that the crowd brings,” he says.

“Much remains to be done to ensure there is a safe space in soccer for individuals like me and his colleague.

“Progress has been limited (more players coming out) as much as we would like.

“My role is to continue advocating for principles I believe in, and strive for eliminating the toxic masculinity in soccer locker rooms and establishing secure environments.”

‘I'm here to create change’

Cavallo says soccer has enabled discussions inside dressing rooms about coming out.

Yet, he is disapproving toward Fifa, after the Middle Eastern nation, where same-sex relationships are illegal, staged the global tournament in 2022.

The 2034 tournament is scheduled in another Gulf state, where homosexuality is similarly prohibited.

“Am I impressed that the global championship is in nations that criminalise same-sex marriages, where people like me will be put in prison for merely living on that land? It's frightening,” states Cavallo.

“I get messages [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I face imprisonment for being who I am - is assistance possible?’.

“It's devastating that people are getting locked up for their true selves.

“There are countries that are significant soccer markets and they reject LGBTQ+ people. Those are the countries that tend to target me.”

Despite this, the footballer says he won't cease advocating.

“Soccer has allowed me to start conversations in the changing room. It lets me communicate and inform individuals who seek understanding.

“Some will disapprove for your identity. But I've discovered support. I've connected with similar people.

“My purpose is to drive progress. That's my objective.”