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“You shouldn't exist” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Stop breathing.”

After announcing he was gay in 2021, footballer Josh Cavallo has faced constant threats and hateful comments on social media.

“Upon reading those comments, it broke my heart,” the player explains. “No-one wants to read things like that.

“I'm working to improve my skills and reach my full potential on the pitch, and then face criticism because of who I am. It's appalling.”

Midfielder Cavallo was playing for Adelaide United back in 2020 when he emerged as the sole publicly out elite soccer player 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 the sixth division, the sixth tier of the English soccer system.

This young athlete combines playing for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by advocating for inclusion matters and leveraging his platform - he has more than one million followers on social media - to promote fairness and inclusion.

“Absolutely, we've got mountains to do,” the footballer says when questioned about ongoing issues with homophobia.

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

‘Individuals wish to hurt me’

It took years for the athlete to work up the courage to say “I'm gay” before coming out on 27 October 2021.

“My only desire is compete in soccer and receive fair treatment,” he said in an related clip.

Cavallo was twenty-one and making a name for himself at his Australian club in the premier division 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 needed to move forward.”

The heartfelt revelation clip, titled ‘His Personal Story’, went viral on digital platforms.

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

Liverpool were one of many high-profile clubs around the world to express support for Cavallo, with then manager the German manager saying: “I'm really thankful that he did it because it sparks conversation.”

Barcelona defender the athlete also offered support, posting online that “the world of football is lagging behind and you are helping us move forward”, while his former club issued a statement supporting their “extraordinary” and “courageous” player.

Others, however, were not so accepting.

Cavallo soon turned into a target of anti-gay remarks by opposition fans.

In January 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined five thousand dollars over anti-gay abuse from fans aimed toward Cavallo during a game.

“The comments I encountered were hurtful and derogatory towards my community,” he says.

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

There was a frightening incident at a gas station in Australia, where the athlete was physically attacked by an individual who identified him from the media attention.

“That was a scary moment,” he recalls. “I remember thinking ‘this is happening - individuals intend to hurt me’.

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

“My wish is that future individuals who comes out while playing football 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 psychological well-being.

“It's disappointing because I must justify why I belong on the football field for my identity,” he says.

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

“A lot of people see me as a cheerful, optimistic person. But sometimes when I lean on my fiance, 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 Blackpool forward another athlete 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 create massive change,” comments 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 come this person's way. Within soccer culture, being an openly gay player is a highly hostile environment.”

Twenty-seven years after Justin Fashanu - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - took his own life in 1998, Cavallo has discussed the “harmful male culture” that still exists in professional soccer.

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

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

“Progress has been limited (more players coming out) as frequently as desired.

“My role is to continue advocating for principles I believe in, and strive for taking out the toxic masculinity in soccer locker rooms and establishing secure environments.”

‘I'm here to create change’

The player says soccer has allowed him to have conversations inside dressing rooms about revealing one's orientation.

Yet, he is disapproving toward soccer's global governing body, after the Middle Eastern nation, where same-sex relationships are illegal, staged the global tournament in 2022.

Future World Cup is scheduled in another Gulf state, where homosexuality is similarly prohibited.

“Am I impressed that the World Cup is in countries that criminalise same-sex marriages, where people like me will be put in prison for merely living on that land? It's frightening,” states the athlete.

“I receive communications [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I face imprisonment for being who I am - is assistance possible?’.

“It's devastating that people are getting locked up for their true selves.

“There are countries that are significant soccer markets and they reject LGBTQ+ people. Those are the countries that tend to target me.”

Nevertheless, Cavallo says he will not stop speaking up.

“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 your identity. But I've discovered support. I've connected with similar people.

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