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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 online platforms.

“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 because of who I am. It's disgusting.”

Midfielder the sportsman was at Adelaide United four years ago when he emerged as the sole publicly out top-flight male professional footballer in the world.

This summer he departed from Australia to join non-league Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in the sixth division, one level below of the English soccer system.

This young athlete balances his sports career for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by advocating for LGBTQ+ issues and leveraging his platform - boasting over a million followers on social media - to promote fairness and inclusion.

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

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

‘People want to harm me’

Several years passed for the athlete to work up the courage to say “I'm gay” before coming out on October 27th, 2021.

“All I want to do is play football and be treated equally,” he stated in an accompanying video.

The player was 21 and building his reputation at his Australian club 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 didn't know what to expect,” he recalls. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”

His emotional coming out video, titled ‘Josh's Truth’, gained massive attention on social media.

“My mobile phone exploded with messages of support. It was overwhelming.”

Liverpool were among numerous famous teams around the world to show solidarity with Cavallo, with then manager the German manager saying: “I'm really thankful that he did it because it sparks conversation.”

Spanish player the athlete also offered support, posting online that “the world of football is far behind and your actions drive progress”, while his former club released a comment backing their “remarkable” and “brave” player.

Some people, however, were not so accepting.

Cavallo quickly became a subject to homophobic abuse by rival supporters.

During early 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from spectators directed at the player during a match.

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

“I remained calm because responding would encourage detractors.”

A scary event occurred at a petrol station in Australia, where Cavallo was physically attacked by someone who recognised him from the coverage.

“That was a scary moment,” he recalls. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is happening - people want to harm me’.

“Should this be tolerated? Definitely not. But by coming out, these are the consequences.

“My wish is 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.”

The player says the constant menacing messages and abusive messages have affected his psychological well-being.

“It's quite sad because I must justify why I deserve a place on the soccer pitch for my identity,” he states.

“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘why should you exist in football?’.

“A lot of people see me as a cheerful, 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’

The player's choice to reveal his sexuality helped inspire teenage attacking player Jake Daniels to announce he was gay as the UK's only openly gay playing soccer professional in May 2022.

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

“It would move mountains,” comments Cavallo on the effect a elite athlete coming out would make.

“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. Numerous frightening aspects that would await this individual. In the world of football, being an openly gay player is a very toxic place.”

Over two decades after Justin Fashanu - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - died by suicide in 1998, Cavallo has discussed the “harmful male culture” that persists in professional soccer.

“Simply attend to a match and see the hostile environment and male-dominated culture that the audience creates,” he explains.

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

“We haven't seen it (more players coming out) as frequently as desired.

“I can only keep pushing for principles I believe in, and strive for eliminating the toxic masculinity in soccer locker rooms and creating a safe space.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

The player says football has enabled discussions inside dressing rooms about revealing one's orientation.

Yet, he is critical of soccer's global governing body, after the Middle Eastern nation, where homosexual partnerships are illegal, staged the global tournament in 2022.

Future World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia, where same-sex attraction is similarly prohibited.

“Do I approve that the global championship is in countries that criminalise same-sex marriages, where people like me will be imprisoned for merely living on that land? It's scary,” says the athlete.

“I get messages [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I face imprisonment for being who I am - is assistance possible?’.

“It breaks my heart that people are getting locked up for their true selves.

“Certain nations that are significant soccer markets and they don't accept the queer community. Those are the countries that often focus on me.”

Despite this, Cavallo says he won't cease advocating.

“Football has enabled dialogue in the locker room. It has allowed me to speak and inform individuals who seek understanding.

“Some will disapprove for who you are. But I have found my family. I have found my community.

“My mission is to drive progress. That's what I'm here for.”