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

Since revealing he was gay in 2021, player Josh Cavallo has received daily death threats and abusive messages on social media.

“When I first saw these messages, it broke my heart,” the player explains. “No-one wants to read things like that.

“I'm trying to get better as a player and reach my full potential during matches, and then face criticism because of who I am. It's disgusting.”

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

This summer he departed from 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 Cambridgeshire part-timers by speaking up on LGBTQ+ issues and using his profile - boasting over a million followers on Instagram - to promote fairness and inclusion.

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

“Rarely a week passes without hearing about an issue.”

‘Individuals wish to hurt me’

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

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

The player was twenty-one and building his reputation at Adelaide United in Australia's top flight when, backed by his colleagues, he announced his orientation publicly.

“I didn't know what was ahead. I had no expectations,” he says. “It felt like the right time in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”

His emotional coming out video, entitled ‘His Personal Story’, went viral on social media.

“My mobile phone exploded with encouraging words. It was overwhelming.”

Liverpool were one of many high-profile clubs around the world to show solidarity with Cavallo, with then manager Jurgen Klopp saying: “I appreciate that he did it because now we talk again.”

Spanish player the athlete also expressed backing, posting online that “the world of football is far behind and your actions drive progress”, while Adelaide United released a comment supporting their “remarkable” and “brave” player.

Others, however, were not so accepting.

Cavallo soon turned into a target of homophobic abuse by rival supporters.

During early 2022 a competing team were penalized five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from spectators aimed toward Cavallo during a game.

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

“I remained calm because responding would encourage detractors.”

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

“That was a scary moment,” he recalls. “I remember thinking ‘this is happening - people want to harm me’.

“Is it acceptable? Definitely not. But through my disclosure, these are the consequences.

“My wish is that the next person who comes out while playing football at a professional standard doesn't have to experience the journey I have experienced.”

Cavallo says the daily death threats 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 being who I am,” 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, his name, and he witnesses much of what occurs privately.”

‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’

The player's choice to disclose his orientation helped inspire 17-year-old attacking player another athlete to come out as the Britain's sole publicly out active male professional footballer in May 2022.

Nevertheless, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the top English division.

“It would move mountains,” says Cavallo on the impact a Premier League player coming out would have.

“But I must be honest. Numerous frightening aspects that would await this individual. In the world of football, identifying as LGBTQ is a highly hostile environment.”

Twenty-seven years after a pioneering player - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - died by suicide in 1998, the current athlete has spoken about the “harmful male culture” that still exists in men's football.

“Simply attend to a game and observe the unfriendly atmosphere and male-dominated culture that the audience creates,” he says.

“Much remains to be done to make sure there is a safe space in soccer for individuals like me and Jake.

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

“My role is to continue advocating for principles I believe in, and work towards eliminating the toxic masculinity in soccer locker rooms and creating a safe space.”

‘I'm here to create change’

Cavallo says soccer has enabled discussions inside dressing rooms about coming out.

However, he is disapproving toward Fifa, after Qatar, where same-sex relationships are illegal, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.

The 2034 tournament is scheduled in another Gulf state, where same-sex attraction is similarly prohibited.

“Am I impressed that the global championship is in nations that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be imprisoned for merely living on their territory? It's frightening,” states the athlete.

“I get messages [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for my identity - is assistance possible?’.

“It breaks my heart that individuals are incarcerated for being who they are.

“Certain nations that are huge in terms of football and they don't accept the queer community. Those are the countries that tend to target me.”

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

“Soccer has enabled dialogue in the changing room. It has allowed me to speak and educate people who seek understanding.

“Not everyone is going to like you for who you are. But I've discovered support. I've connected with similar people.

“My purpose is to drive progress. That's my objective.”