Openly Gay Australian Soccer Star Cavallo Accuses Previous Team of Homophobia

Gay soccer player Josh Cavallo on Tuesday claimed that his old club Adelaide United displayed homophobia which caused him to leave and the club firmly denied the accusation.

The 26 year old from Australia became the only openly gay male in a top level league worldwide back in 2021 earning widespread praise across sports for his announcement.

Numerous international soccer icons such as Antoine Griezmann Marcus Rashford Raphael Varane Gerard Pique and David de Gea shared messages of support on Twitter during that period.

Cavallo had earlier commended Adelaide United which competes in Australias premier A League for creating a secure environment in soccer and he even proposed to his partner right on the field in 2024.

However in a detailed message on social media he asserted that his chances to play in his last couple of years were obstructed due to his sexual orientation.

It has taken time for me to come to terms with how my stint at Adelaide United concluded but I believe the supporters merit the truth said Cavallo who departed the team in May following scant playing minutes in his concluding two campaigns.

My exit from the club was unrelated to soccer matters. Choices by those in authority restricted my prospects not due to my skills but rather because of the person I love.

With the arrival of fresh leadership it was evident that I was barred from the field owing to internal politics. It is tough to accept when I understood that my very own team harboured homophobia.

Cavallo currently with amateur side Stamford in England stated that the ordeal led him to doubt if revealing his sexuality was wise.

This is precisely the concern I held regarding coming out witnessing bias impact my professional path in contemporary times he remarked.

For the initial occasion I truly pondered whether I ought to have concealed my sexual identity.

Adelaide United robustly refuted the claims.

The club feels profoundly let down by these statements and outright dismisses the accusations encompassing any implication that Adelaide United is homophobic it declared in an official release.

Every choice about on pitch selections is determined purely by sporting merits.

Adelaide United has consistently worked to cultivate a welcoming atmosphere for athletes personnel and fans and we take pride in our continued efforts to advance inclusivity in soccer.