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“You don't belong on this earth” ... “What are you doing here?” ... “Stop breathing.”

After announcing he was gay in 2021, footballer the athlete has received daily death threats and abusive messages on social media.

“When I first saw these messages, I was devastated,” the player states. “Nobody should have to endure such words.

“I'm trying to get better as a player and be the best I can be during matches, and then face criticism because of who I am. It's appalling.”

Midfielder the sportsman was at Adelaide United four years ago when he became the only openly gay top-flight male professional footballer in the world.

Recently he departed from Australia to join lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in National League North, one level below of English football.

The 25-year-old balances his sports career for the semi-professional team by advocating for inclusion matters and leveraging his platform - he has more than one million followers on Instagram - to promote fairness and inclusion.

“Absolutely, there's enormous work ahead,” Cavallo comments when questioned about ongoing issues with homophobia.

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

‘People want to harm me’

It took years for Cavallo to work up the courage to say “I am homosexual” before coming out on 27 October 2021.

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

Cavallo was 21 and building his reputation at his Australian club in Australia's top flight when, with the support of his team-mates, he publicly came out.

“The future was uncertain. 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 social media.

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

Liverpool were one of many high-profile clubs around the world to show solidarity with the player, with then manager Jurgen Klopp saying: “I appreciate that he took this step because it sparks conversation.”

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique also expressed backing, posting online that “the world of football is far behind and you are helping us move forward”, while Adelaide United issued a statement backing their “remarkable” and “brave” player.

Others, however, were less welcoming.

The footballer quickly became a subject to anti-gay remarks by opposition fans.

During early 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined A$5,000 over anti-gay abuse from spectators directed at Cavallo during a match.

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

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

There was a frightening incident at a petrol station in Australia, where the athlete was physically attacked by someone who recognised him from the media attention.

“That was a scary moment,” he recalls. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is real - individuals intend to hurt me’.

“Is it acceptable? Absolutely not. But through my disclosure, this is what it brings.

“I hope that the next person who reveals their orientation while competing in soccer at a high level doesn't have to experience the journey I have endured.”

Cavallo says the daily death threats and abusive messages have taken a toll on his mental health.

“It's disappointing because I am having to explain why I deserve a place on the soccer pitch for being who I am,” he says.

“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘what gives you the right in football?’.

“Many individuals see me as a cheerful, positive person. But there are days when I lean on my fiance, Leighton, and he gets to see much of what occurs privately.”

‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’

Cavallo's decision to disclose his orientation helped prompt 17-year-old attacking player 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 Premier League.

“It would move mountains,” says the footballer on the effect a Premier League player revealing their orientation would make.

“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. There are a lot of scary things that would await this individual. Within soccer culture, being an openly gay player is a very toxic place.”

Over two decades after Justin Fashanu - the UK's initial out soccer professional - died by suicide in 1998, the current athlete has discussed the “toxic masculinity” that persists in men's football.

“Simply attend to a game 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 soccer for individuals like me and his colleague.

“Progress has been limited (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as frequently as desired.

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

‘My mission is to drive progress’

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

However, he is disapproving toward Fifa, after the Middle Eastern nation, where homosexual partnerships are against the law, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.

Future World Cup will be held in another Gulf state, where homosexuality is similarly prohibited.

“Do I approve that the World Cup is in nations that ban gay unions, where people like me will be put in prison for just existing on their territory? It's scary,” says the athlete.

“I get messages [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 individuals are incarcerated for their true selves.

“Certain nations that are huge in terms of football and they reject LGBTQ+ people. These places that often focus on me.”

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

“Football has enabled dialogue in the changing room. It lets me communicate and educate people who want to learn more.

“Some will disapprove 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.”