Pioneering gay footballer accuses former club of homophobia
Joshua Cavallo, the first man to come out as gay while playing senior football, has claimed he was expelled from his former club due to “internal homophobia”.
Cavallo, who recently joined Stamford AFC after leaving Adelaide United in May last year, made global headlines in 2021 as he emerged with the support of the Australian club and his team-mates.
In a post on Instagram on Tuesday, Cavallo claimed Adelaide United officials later sidelined him because of his sexual orientation, which the club’s spokesperson said he “categorically denies”.
The club’s statement said, “All on-field decisions regarding team selection are made only on football fields.”
In an Instagram post, Cavallo wrote that it had taken him a while to “process how my time at Adelaide United ended” but said he spoke out because fans deserve honesty.
“It was hard to swallow when I realized my own club was homophobic. I got angry because people thought I was sidelined due to injuries, when in reality it was the inherent homophobia that kept me on the bench.”
Cavallo, who said the change in management meant “politics” kept him off the pitch and limited his career opportunities, also claimed he was mocked by his teammates with a photo of himself and his partner in the group chat.
“For the first time, I questioned whether I should keep my sexuality a secret.”
A spokesman for Adelaide United, who will attend their fourth Pride Cup game on Saturday, said they were “extremely disappointed by the allegations”.
“Adelaide United has always been committed to fostering an inclusive environment for players, staff and fans and we are proud of our ongoing work to encourage inclusion across football.”
Cavallo had previously mentioned that he received death threats almost every day after his decision to go public, but said his only regret was not announcing it sooner.
His 2021 declaration inspired Jake Daniels, who became the first British professional male footballer to appear in more than 30 years in 2022 at the age of 17.
