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

After announcing his homosexuality in 2021, player Josh Cavallo has received daily death threats and abusive messages on social media.

“When I first saw these messages, it broke my heart,” Cavallo states. “No-one wants to read things like that.

“I'm trying to get better as a player and reach my full potential on the pitch, and then get put down due to my identity. It's disgusting.”

Midfielder the sportsman was playing for Adelaide United four years ago when he emerged as the sole publicly out elite soccer player in the world.

Recently he left Australia to sign with non-league Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in National League North, the sixth tier of English football.

This young athlete combines playing for the semi-professional team by speaking up on LGBTQ+ issues and leveraging his platform - boasting over a million followers on Instagram - to champion equality and acceptance.

“Definitely, there's enormous work ahead,” the footballer says when questioned about ongoing issues with homophobia.

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

‘People want to harm me’

It took years for the athlete to work up the courage to say “I'm gay” before coming out on October 27th, 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 building his reputation 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. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”

His emotional coming out video, entitled ‘His Personal Story’, gained massive attention on digital platforms.

“My phone was flooded with messages of support. The response was incredible.”

A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to express support for Cavallo, with the coach at the time Jurgen Klopp saying: “I appreciate that he took this step because now we talk again.”

Barcelona defender the athlete also expressed backing, writing on social media that “soccer culture is far behind and you are helping us move forward”, while Adelaide United released a comment backing their “remarkable” and “courageous” player.

Some people, however, were less welcoming.

Cavallo quickly became a target of anti-gay remarks by opposition fans.

In January 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from spectators directed at Cavallo during a game.

“The comments I encountered were painful and disparaging towards my community,” he explains.

“I remained calm because responding would encourage detractors.”

A scary event occurred at a gas station in Australia, where Cavallo was physically attacked by an individual who identified him from the media attention.

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

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

“My wish is that the next person who comes out while competing in soccer at a high level doesn't have to experience the path I have experienced.”

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

“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, positive person. But there are days when I rely on my partner, his name, and he witnesses a lot that happens behind the scenes.”

‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’

Cavallo's decision to reveal his sexuality helped inspire 17-year-old Blackpool forward another athlete to come out as the Britain's sole publicly out playing soccer professional in May 2022.

Nevertheless, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the Premier League.

“It would create massive change,” says Cavallo on the impact a elite athlete revealing their orientation would have.

“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, being an openly gay player is a very toxic place.”

Twenty-seven years after Justin Fashanu - the UK's initial out soccer professional - took his own life in 1998, the current athlete has spoken about the “toxic masculinity” that still exists in professional soccer.

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

“There is still a lot of work to make sure there is a safe space in soccer for people like myself and his colleague.

“Progress has been limited (more players coming out) as frequently as desired.

“I can only keep pushing for principles I believe in, and strive for eliminating the toxic masculinity in soccer locker rooms and creating a safe space.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

The player says soccer has allowed him to have conversations inside dressing rooms about revealing one's orientation.

However, he is critical of Fifa, after the Middle Eastern nation, where homosexual partnerships are against the law, staged the global tournament in 2022.

Future World Cup is scheduled in another Gulf state, where homosexuality is similarly prohibited.

“Am I impressed that the global championship is in countries that criminalise same-sex marriages, where individuals like myself will be put in prison for merely living on their territory? It's scary,” states Cavallo.

“I get messages [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I face imprisonment for my identity - is assistance possible?’.

“It's devastating that individuals are incarcerated for being who they are.

“Certain nations that are huge in terms of football and they reject the queer community. Those are the countries that tend to target me.”

Nevertheless, Cavallo says he won't cease advocating.

“Soccer has enabled dialogue in the changing room. It has allowed me to speak and educate people who seek understanding.

“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.”