Josh Cavallo, the first openly gay active male footballer, revealed that he receives multiple death threats daily, expressing the challenges that come with being openly gay in football. Despite support from his club and coaches, he described the football culture as toxic, making it difficult for others to come out. Cavallo emphasized that coming out leads to significant pressure and negativity, affecting players' performance. His experience underscores the need for better acceptance in the sport, while he also wished he had come out earlier to live authentically.
"There's multiple, multiple, multiple death threats that come my way daily still, and it's quite sad to see," he told FIFPRO's Footballers Unfiltered podcast.
"In the world of football, being an openly gay player is a very toxic place. It's something that not everyone would be able to handle and go through."
"It's difficult to say to people, 'Absolutely, come out, be yourself,'" he said. "But it also comes with a mountain of downsides as well that I don't think people realise."
"I was tired of being hidden and tired of having to go around and hide from people and not live my authentic self," he said.
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