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“You don't belong on this earth” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”

Since revealing his homosexuality in 2021, footballer the athlete has received daily death threats and abusive messages on online platforms.

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

“I'm working to improve my skills and be the best I can be on the pitch, and then face criticism due to my identity. It's appalling.”

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

This summer he departed from Australia to join lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in the sixth division, one level below of the English soccer system.

This young athlete balances his sports career for the semi-professional team by advocating for LGBTQ+ issues and leveraging his platform - he has more than one million followers on Instagram - to champion equality and acceptance.

“Absolutely, we've got mountains to do,” Cavallo comments when asked if football still has a problem with discrimination.

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

‘People want to harm me’

Several years passed for Cavallo to build up the bravery to say “I am homosexual” before revealing his sexuality on 27 October 2021.

“All I want to do is play football and receive fair treatment,” he said in an related clip.

Cavallo was 21 and building his reputation at Adelaide United in the premier division when, backed by his colleagues, he announced his orientation publicly.

“The future was uncertain. 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, titled ‘His Personal Story’, went viral on digital platforms.

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

A prominent club were one of many high-profile clubs around the world to show solidarity with the player, with then manager the German manager saying: “I'm really thankful that he did it because now we talk again.”

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique also offered support, posting online that “soccer culture is lagging behind and you are helping us move forward”, while his former club issued a statement supporting their “remarkable” and “courageous” player.

Some people, however, were not so accepting.

The footballer quickly became a subject to homophobic abuse by rival supporters.

During early 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined A$5,000 over discriminatory chants from spectators aimed toward the player during a match.

“The comments I encountered were painful and disparaging towards LGBTQ people,” he explains.

“I didn't react because responding would encourage detractors.”

A scary event occurred at a petrol station in Australia, where Cavallo was assaulted by someone who recognised him from the coverage.

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

“Is it acceptable? Absolutely not. But by coming out, this is what it brings.

“I hope that future individuals who comes out while competing in soccer at a professional standard won't face the journey I have experienced.”

The player says the daily death threats and abusive messages have affected his mental health.

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

“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘why should you exist in football?’.

“Many individuals see me as a cheerful, positive person. But there are days when I rely on my partner, Leighton, and he witnesses a lot that happens privately.”

‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’

Cavallo's decision to reveal his sexuality helped prompt teenage Blackpool forward another athlete to come out as the Britain's sole publicly out playing soccer professional in spring 2022.

Nevertheless, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the Premier League.

“It would create massive change,” says Cavallo on the impact a Premier League player coming out would make.

“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. Numerous frightening aspects that would come this person's way. In the world of football, being an openly gay player is a very toxic place.”

Over two decades after Justin Fashanu - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - died by suicide in 1998, the current athlete has spoken about the “toxic masculinity” that persists in men's football.

“Simply attend to a game and see the hostile environment and masculinity that the audience creates,” he explains.

“Much remains to be done to ensure there is a safe space in soccer for individuals like me and his colleague.

“We haven't seen it (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as much as we would like.

“I can only keep pushing for principles I believe in, and work towards taking out the harmful male norms in soccer locker rooms and creating a safe space.”

‘I'm here to create change’

The player says soccer has enabled discussions within team environments about coming out.

Yet, he is critical of Fifa, after Qatar, where same-sex relationships are illegal, staged the global tournament in 2022.

The 2034 tournament is scheduled in Saudi Arabia, where same-sex attraction is similarly prohibited.

“Am I impressed that the World Cup is in countries that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be imprisoned for merely living on that land? It's scary,” states Cavallo.

“I receive communications [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for my identity - can you help me?’.

“It breaks my heart that individuals are incarcerated for their true selves.

“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.”

Despite this, the footballer says he won't cease advocating.

“Football has enabled dialogue in the locker room. It lets me communicate and educate people who seek understanding.

“Some will disapprove for who you are. But I have found my family. I have found my community.

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