Joshua Cavallo - the first man to come out as gay while playing top-tier football - has alleged he was pushed out of 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 when he came out with the support of his Australian club and teammates.
In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Cavallo alleged that the Adelaide United officials sidelined him because of his sexuality, a claim that a spokesperson for the club has categorically rejected. All on-field decisions relating to team selection are made solely on footballing grounds, the club's statement read.
In the Instagram post, Cavallo wrote that it had taken him a while to digest how my time at Adelaide United ended but felt compelled to speak out for the sake of honesty with fans. He shared feelings of anger and disappointment, stating, It's hard to swallow when I realised my own club was homophobic. I was angry because people thought I was sidelined based on injuries when in reality, it was internal homophobia that kept me on the bench.
Cavallo also mentioned that changes in management led to politics influencing his position on the team. He alleged that a photo of him and his partner was mocked by teammates in a group chat, which deeply affected him. For the first time, I actually questioned if I should have kept my sexuality a secret, he admitted.
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for Adelaide United expressed disappointment, asserting the club's commitment to fostering an inclusive environment for all players. Cavallo has previously spoken about receiving death threats following his public coming out but expressed that his only regret was not coming out sooner. His courageous move inspired fellow footballer Jake Daniels to come out as the first British professional male footballer to do so in over three decades.
In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Cavallo alleged that the Adelaide United officials sidelined him because of his sexuality, a claim that a spokesperson for the club has categorically rejected. All on-field decisions relating to team selection are made solely on footballing grounds, the club's statement read.
In the Instagram post, Cavallo wrote that it had taken him a while to digest how my time at Adelaide United ended but felt compelled to speak out for the sake of honesty with fans. He shared feelings of anger and disappointment, stating, It's hard to swallow when I realised my own club was homophobic. I was angry because people thought I was sidelined based on injuries when in reality, it was internal homophobia that kept me on the bench.
Cavallo also mentioned that changes in management led to politics influencing his position on the team. He alleged that a photo of him and his partner was mocked by teammates in a group chat, which deeply affected him. For the first time, I actually questioned if I should have kept my sexuality a secret, he admitted.
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for Adelaide United expressed disappointment, asserting the club's commitment to fostering an inclusive environment for all players. Cavallo has previously spoken about receiving death threats following his public coming out but expressed that his only regret was not coming out sooner. His courageous move inspired fellow footballer Jake Daniels to come out as the first British professional male footballer to do so in over three decades.
