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“You shouldn't exist” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”

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, it broke my heart,” the player explains. “No-one wants to read things like that.

“I'm working to improve my skills and be the best I can be on the pitch, and then get put down due to my identity. It's disgusting.”

Player the sportsman was at Adelaide United four years ago when he emerged as the sole publicly out top-flight male professional footballer in the world.

This summer he departed from Australia to sign with lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in the sixth division, one level below of the English soccer system.

The 25-year-old combines playing for the semi-professional team by speaking up on inclusion matters and leveraging his platform - he has more than one million followers on Instagram - to champion equality and acceptance.

“Definitely, there's enormous work ahead,” Cavallo says when questioned about ongoing issues with discrimination.

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

‘Individuals wish to hurt me’

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

“My only desire is play football and receive fair treatment,” he stated in an accompanying video.

The player was twenty-one and building his reputation at his Australian club in Australia's top flight when, backed by his colleagues, he publicly came out.

“The future was uncertain. I didn't know what to expect,” he says. “It felt like the right time in my life. I needed to move forward.”

His emotional coming out video, entitled ‘His Personal Story’, went viral on social media.

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

A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to show solidarity with Cavallo, with the coach at the time the German manager saying: “I'm really thankful that he took this step because now we talk again.”

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique also offered support, writing on social media that “soccer culture is lagging behind and you are helping us move forward”, while Adelaide United issued a statement backing their “extraordinary” and “brave” player.

Some people, however, were not so accepting.

The footballer soon turned into a subject to anti-gay remarks by rival supporters.

In January 2022 Melbourne Victory were penalized A$5,000 over anti-gay abuse from spectators directed at the player during a game.

“The comments I encountered were painful and disparaging towards LGBTQ people,” he explains.

“I remained calm because responding would encourage detractors.”

There was a frightening incident at a petrol station in Australia, where the athlete was physically attacked by someone who recognised him from the coverage.

“It was terrifying,” he recalls. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is real - individuals intend to hurt me’.

“Is it acceptable? Definitely not. But through my disclosure, this is what it brings.

“My wish is that the next person who comes out while competing in soccer at a high level won't face the path I have endured.”

Cavallo says the daily death threats and abusive messages have affected his psychological well-being.

“It's quite sad because I must justify why I deserve a place on the soccer pitch for being who I am,” he states.

“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘why should you exist in football?’.

“Many individuals see me as a smiling, positive person. But sometimes when I lean on my fiance, Leighton, and he witnesses a lot that happens behind the scenes.”

‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’

Cavallo's decision to disclose his orientation helped inspire 17-year-old attacking player another athlete to come out as the UK's only openly gay playing soccer professional in spring 2022.

Nevertheless, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the Premier League.

“It would create massive change,” comments Cavallo on the effect a elite athlete coming out would make.

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

Twenty-seven years after a pioneering player - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - took his own life in 1998, the current athlete has discussed the “harmful male culture” that persists in men's football.

“Simply attend to a game and observe the unfriendly atmosphere and male-dominated culture that the crowd brings,” he says.

“There is still a lot of work to ensure there is a secure environment in football for individuals like me and Jake.

“We haven't seen it (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as frequently as desired.

“My role is to continue advocating for what I think is right, and strive for taking out the harmful male norms in football changing rooms and creating a safe space.”

‘I'm here to create change’

The player says football has allowed him to have conversations within team environments about revealing one's orientation.

However, he is disapproving toward Fifa, after the Middle Eastern nation, where homosexual partnerships are illegal, staged the global tournament in 2022.

The 2034 tournament is scheduled in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is similarly prohibited.

“Do I approve that the World Cup is in nations that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be imprisoned for merely living on that land? It's scary,” says Cavallo.

“I receive communications [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I face imprisonment for my identity - can you help me?’.

“It breaks my heart that people are getting locked up for being who they are.

“Certain nations that are significant soccer markets and they don't accept LGBTQ+ people. These places that tend to target me.”

Nevertheless, the footballer says he will not stop speaking up.

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

“Some will disapprove for who you are. But I've discovered support. I've connected with similar people.

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