"Facing Daily Death Threats"... Confession of 'First Coming-Out' Pro Soccer Player

First Active Professional Soccer Player Came Out in 2021
Suffers Ongoing Death Threats After Coming Out

A current male professional soccer player who was the first to come out as gay has confessed that he suffers from daily death threats.

On the 19th, Yonhap News reported that Josh Cavallo, who plays for Adelaide United in Australia's A-League, appeared on the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO) podcast and said, "I receive multiple death threats every day in my daily life," adding, "Living openly as a gay person in the football world is truly dangerous." Previously, around October 2021, Cavallo became the first active professional soccer player to come out as gay.

Josh Cavallo, who plays for Adelaide United in the Australian A-League, appeared on the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO) podcast and stated, "I receive numerous death threats multiple times every day in my daily life," adding, "Living openly as a gay person in the football world is truly dangerous." joshua.cavallo Instagram

On the podcast, he said, "This world still has a long way to go," and "It's not easy to tell fellow gay players to 'come out and fully reveal yourself.'" Cavallo not only faced death threats but also heard homophobic chants from spectators, which he shared on social media. He emphasized, "These factors make gay players hesitate to come out. When you come out, you face harsh scrutiny, feel pressured, and inevitably experience negative impacts on your performance in the long term."

Cavallo also said he endures continuous hatred with the help of those around him. He stated, "I was always tired of being hidden, hiding, and unable to live as my true self," and added, "I didn't understand why people in football didn't come out, but after considering all the negative repercussions that follow coming out, I now understand." Meanwhile, after Cavallo came out, other LGBTQ+ players have found courage. Jake Daniels of Blackpool in English professional football and Jakub Jankto, a Czech national team player currently playing for Cagliari Calcio in Italian professional football, have also publicly identified as gay.