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“You don't belong on this earth” ... “What are you doing here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”

Since revealing his homosexuality in 2021, player Josh Cavallo has received daily death threats and hateful comments on online platforms.

“Upon reading those comments, I was devastated,” Cavallo states. “No-one wants to read things like that.

“I'm trying to get better as a player and reach my full potential on the pitch, and then get put down due to my identity. It's appalling.”

Midfielder Cavallo was at Adelaide United back in 2020 when he emerged as the sole publicly out top-flight male professional footballer in the world.

This summer he left Australia to join lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in National League North, one level below of the English soccer system.

This young athlete balances his sports career for the semi-professional team by speaking up on inclusion matters and using his profile - he has more than one million followers on social media - to promote fairness and inclusion.

“Absolutely, we've got mountains to do,” Cavallo comments when questioned about ongoing issues with discrimination.

“I don't go more than a week without hearing about an issue.”

‘People want to harm me’

Several years passed for Cavallo to work up the courage to say “I am homosexual” before coming out on October 27th, 2021.

“My only desire is play football and receive fair treatment,” he stated in an related clip.

The player was twenty-one and building his reputation at Adelaide United in the premier division when, backed by his colleagues, he announced his orientation publicly.

“The future was uncertain. I had no expectations,” he says. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I needed to move forward.”

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

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

A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to show solidarity with Cavallo, with the coach at the time the German manager saying: “I appreciate that he took this step because now we talk again.”

Spanish player the athlete also offered support, posting online that “the world of football is lagging behind and your actions drive progress”, while his former club issued a statement supporting their “extraordinary” and “courageous” player.

Others, however, were not so accepting.

The footballer soon turned into a subject to homophobic abuse by rival supporters.

During early 2022 a competing team were penalized A$5,000 over anti-gay abuse from fans aimed toward Cavallo during a game.

“The comments I encountered were hurtful and disparaging towards my community,” he explains.

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

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

“It was terrifying,” he remembers. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is real - people want to harm me’.

“Is it acceptable? Definitely not. But by coming out, this is what it brings.

“My wish is that future individuals who reveals their orientation while competing in soccer at a professional standard won't face the path I have experienced.”

The player says the daily death threats and abusive messages have affected his mental health.

“It's disappointing because I am having to explain why I belong on the football field for my identity,” he says.

“Heterosexual players aren't questioned and ask ‘why should you exist in football?’.

“A lot of people see me as a cheerful, optimistic person. But sometimes when I rely on my partner, Leighton, and he witnesses a lot that happens privately.”

‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’

Cavallo's decision to disclose his orientation helped inspire 17-year-old attacking player Jake Daniels to come out as the Britain's sole publicly out playing soccer professional in May 2022.

Nevertheless, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the Premier League.

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

“But I must be honest. There are a lot of scary things that would come this person's way. In the world of football, identifying as LGBTQ is a very toxic place.”

Twenty-seven years after a pioneering player - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - took his own life in 1998, the current athlete has spoken about the “toxic masculinity” that still exists in professional soccer.

“Simply attend to a game and see the unfriendly atmosphere and male-dominated culture that the crowd brings,” he explains.

“Much remains to be done to ensure there is a secure environment in soccer for individuals like me and his colleague.

“We haven't seen it (more players coming out) as much as we would like.

“I can only keep pushing for principles I believe in, and strive for taking out the harmful male norms in soccer locker rooms and establishing secure environments.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

The player says soccer has enabled discussions within team environments about coming out.

Yet, he is disapproving toward Fifa, after Qatar, where same-sex relationships are against the law, staged the global tournament in 2022.

Future World Cup is scheduled in another Gulf state, where same-sex attraction is also illegal.

“Do I approve that the global championship is in nations that criminalise same-sex marriages, where people like me will be imprisoned for merely living on their territory? It's frightening,” says Cavallo.

“I get messages [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I face imprisonment for my identity - can you help me?’.

“It's devastating that individuals are incarcerated for their true selves.

“Certain nations that are huge in terms of football and they don't accept LGBTQ+ people. These places that often focus on me.”

Nevertheless, Cavallo says he won't cease advocating.

“Soccer has allowed me to start conversations in the locker room. It has allowed me to speak and educate people who seek understanding.

“Some will disapprove for who you are. But I've discovered support. I've connected with similar people.

“My purpose is to create change. That's what I'm here for.”