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“You don't belong on this earth” ... “Why are you 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.

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

“I'm working to improve my skills and reach my full potential during matches, and then face criticism due to my identity. It's appalling.”

Player the sportsman was playing for Adelaide United back in 2020 when he became the only openly gay elite soccer player in the world.

Recently he departed from Australia to sign with lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in the sixth division, one level below of English football.

The 25-year-old balances his sports career for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by speaking up on LGBTQ+ issues and using his profile - he has more than one million followers on social media - to promote fairness and inclusion.

“Definitely, there's enormous work ahead,” the footballer comments when asked if football still has a problem with homophobia.

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

‘Individuals wish to hurt me’

Several years passed for the athlete to build up the bravery to say “I am homosexual” before revealing his sexuality on October 27th, 2021.

“All I want to do is play football and receive fair treatment,” he said in an related clip.

Cavallo was 21 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 didn't know what to expect,” he says. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”

The heartfelt revelation clip, entitled ‘His Personal Story’, gained massive attention on social media.

“My phone was flooded with encouraging words. 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 the German manager saying: “I'm really thankful that he took this step because it sparks conversation.”

Spanish player Gerard Pique also offered support, posting online that “soccer culture is far behind and you are helping us move forward”, while Adelaide United released a comment backing their “extraordinary” and “brave” player.

Others, however, were less welcoming.

Cavallo soon turned into a target of homophobic abuse by rival supporters.

During early 2022 a competing team were fined five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from fans directed at Cavallo during a match.

“The things I'd hear were painful and derogatory towards my community,” he explains.

“I didn't react because responding would encourage detractors.”

There was a frightening incident at a petrol station in Australia, where the athlete was assaulted 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, this is what it brings.

“I hope that the next person who comes out while playing football at a high level won't face the journey I have endured.”

The player says the constant menacing messages 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 being who I am,” he says.

“Heterosexual players aren't questioned and ask ‘what gives you the right in football?’.

“Many individuals see me as a cheerful, positive person. But sometimes when I lean on my fiance, his name, and he gets to see a lot that happens privately.”

‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’

Cavallo's decision to reveal his sexuality helped inspire teenage attacking player another athlete to announce he was gay as the Britain's sole publicly out active male professional footballer in spring 2022.

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

“It would create massive change,” says Cavallo on the impact a elite athlete coming out would have.

“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. Numerous frightening aspects that would come this person's way. Within soccer culture, being an openly gay player is a very toxic place.”

Twenty-seven years after Justin Fashanu - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - died by suicide in 1998, Cavallo has spoken about the “harmful male culture” that still exists in professional soccer.

“You just need to go to a match and observe the unfriendly atmosphere and male-dominated culture that the audience creates,” he says.

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

“We haven't seen it (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as much as we would like.

“I can only keep pushing for what I think is right, and work towards eliminating the harmful male norms in soccer locker 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 Qatar, where homosexual partnerships are against the law, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.

The 2034 tournament is scheduled in Saudi Arabia, where same-sex attraction is similarly prohibited.

“Am I impressed that the World Cup is in nations that ban gay unions, where people like me will be put in prison for merely living on that land? It's frightening,” states Cavallo.

“I receive communications [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for being who I am - is assistance possible?’.

“It's devastating that people are getting locked up for being who they are.

“Certain nations that are significant soccer markets and they don't accept the queer community. These places that tend to target me.”

Despite this, the footballer says he won't cease advocating.

“Soccer has enabled dialogue in the changing room. It has allowed me to speak and inform individuals who want to learn more.

“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 drive progress. That's my objective.”