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“You shouldn't exist” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Stop breathing.”

After announcing his homosexuality in 2021, player the athlete has faced constant threats and hateful comments on social media.

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

“I'm trying to get better as a player and be the best I can be on the pitch, and then get put down because of who I am. It's appalling.”

Player Cavallo was playing for Adelaide United back in 2020 when he became the only openly gay top-flight male professional footballer in the world.

Recently he departed from Australia to sign with non-league Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in the sixth division, the sixth tier of the English soccer system.

The 25-year-old balances his sports career for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by advocating for inclusion matters and using his profile - boasting over a million followers on Instagram - to champion equality and inclusion.

“Definitely, we've got mountains to do,” Cavallo comments when asked if football still has a problem with homophobia.

“I don't go more than a week without encountering problems.”

‘Individuals wish to hurt me’

Several years passed for Cavallo to build up the bravery 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 related clip.

Cavallo was twenty-one and building his reputation at Adelaide United in the premier division when, with the support of his team-mates, he announced his orientation publicly.

“I didn't know what was ahead. I had no expectations,” he recalls. “It felt like the right time in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”

His emotional coming out video, entitled ‘Josh's Truth’, gained massive attention on digital platforms.

“My mobile phone exploded with encouraging words. The response was incredible.”

A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to express support for Cavallo, with then manager Jurgen Klopp saying: “I appreciate that he did it because now we talk again.”

Spanish player Gerard Pique also expressed backing, posting online that “soccer culture is lagging behind and your actions drive progress”, while his former club issued a statement backing their “extraordinary” and “brave” player.

Others, however, were less welcoming.

The footballer quickly became a subject to anti-gay remarks by rival supporters.

During early 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined A$5,000 over discriminatory chants from fans aimed toward Cavallo during a match.

“The comments I encountered were hurtful and derogatory towards LGBTQ people,” he explains.

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

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 remembers. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is happening - individuals intend to hurt me’.

“Is it acceptable? Absolutely not. But by coming out, these are the consequences.

“I hope that the next person who comes out while competing in soccer at a professional standard doesn't have to experience the path I have experienced.”

Cavallo says the constant menacing messages and abusive messages have taken a toll on his mental health.

“It's quite sad because I must justify why I belong on the football field for my identity,” he says.

“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 there are days when I rely on my partner, Leighton, and he gets to see much of what occurs privately.”

‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’

Cavallo's decision to reveal his sexuality helped inspire 17-year-old Blackpool forward Jake Daniels to announce he was gay as the UK's only openly gay active male professional footballer in May 2022.

Nevertheless, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the top English division.

“It would create massive change,” comments the footballer on the effect a elite athlete revealing their orientation would make.

“But I must be honest. 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 highly hostile environment.”

Over two decades after Justin Fashanu - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - took his own life in 1998, the current athlete has spoken about the “harmful male culture” that persists in professional soccer.

“You just need to go to a match and observe the unfriendly atmosphere and masculinity that the audience creates,” he explains.

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

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

“My role is to continue advocating for principles I believe in, and work towards eliminating the harmful male norms in football changing rooms and establishing secure environments.”

‘I'm here to create change’

The player says soccer has allowed him to have conversations within team environments about coming out.

Yet, he is disapproving toward soccer's global governing body, after the Middle Eastern nation, where same-sex relationships are against the law, staged the global tournament in 2022.

The 2034 tournament will be held in another Gulf state, where homosexuality is similarly prohibited.

“Am I impressed that the World Cup is in nations that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be imprisoned for just existing on that land? It's frightening,” states the athlete.

“I receive communications [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for my identity - can you help me?’.

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

“Certain nations that are huge in terms of football and they reject the queer community. Those are the countries that often focus on me.”

Nevertheless, the footballer says he won't cease advocating.

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

“Not everyone is going to like you for who you are. But I've discovered support. I've connected with similar people.

“My mission is to create change. That's my objective.”