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

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

“When I first saw these messages, I was devastated,” Cavallo states. “No-one wants to read things like that.

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

Midfielder Cavallo was playing for Adelaide United four years ago when he emerged as the sole publicly out elite soccer player in the world.

This summer he left Australia to join non-league Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in National League North, the sixth tier of English football.

This young athlete balances his sports career for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by advocating for inclusion matters and leveraging his platform - boasting over a million followers on Instagram - to champion equality and inclusion.

“Absolutely, there's enormous work ahead,” the footballer says when asked if football still has a problem with homophobia.

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

‘Individuals wish to hurt me’

It took years for Cavallo to work up the courage to say “I'm gay” before revealing his sexuality on 27 October 2021.

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

Cavallo was twenty-one and making a name for himself at Adelaide United in Australia's top flight when, with the support of his team-mates, 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 needed to move forward.”

His emotional coming out video, titled ‘His Personal Story’, went viral on digital platforms.

“My mobile phone exploded with messages of support. The response was incredible.”

Liverpool were among numerous famous teams around the world to express support for Cavallo, with the coach at the time Jurgen Klopp saying: “I'm really thankful that he took this step because now we talk again.”

Spanish player Gerard Pique also offered support, posting online that “soccer culture is far behind and your actions drive progress”, while his former club issued a statement backing their “remarkable” and “brave” player.

Some people, however, were less welcoming.

Cavallo soon turned into a subject to anti-gay remarks by opposition fans.

During early 2022 a competing team were fined five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from fans directed at the player 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.”

A scary event occurred at a petrol station in Australia, where the athlete was physically attacked by an individual who identified him from the coverage.

“That was a scary moment,” he remembers. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is happening - individuals intend to hurt me’.

“Should this be tolerated? Definitely not. But through my disclosure, this is what it brings.

“My wish is that the next person who reveals their orientation while playing football at a professional standard doesn't have to experience the path I have experienced.”

The player says the constant menacing messages and abusive messages have taken a toll on his mental health.

“It's quite sad because I must justify why I belong on the soccer pitch for my identity,” he states.

“Heterosexual players aren't questioned and ask ‘what gives you the right in football?’.

“A lot of people see me as a smiling, optimistic person. But sometimes when I lean on my fiance, Leighton, and he gets to see a lot that happens behind the scenes.”

‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’

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

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

“It would create massive change,” says Cavallo on the impact a elite athlete revealing their orientation would have.

“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, identifying as LGBTQ is a highly hostile environment.”

Over two decades after a pioneering player - the UK's initial out soccer professional - took his own life in 1998, Cavallo has spoken about the “toxic masculinity” that still exists in men's football.

“Simply attend to a game and observe the unfriendly atmosphere and masculinity that the audience creates,” he explains.

“Much remains to be done to make sure there is a secure environment in soccer for people like myself and his colleague.

“Progress has been limited (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as much as we would like.

“I can only keep pushing for what I think is right, and work towards eliminating the harmful male norms in football changing rooms and establishing secure environments.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

The player says soccer has allowed him to have conversations within team environments about revealing one's orientation.

However, he is critical of soccer's global governing body, after the Middle Eastern nation, where same-sex relationships are illegal, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.

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

“Am I impressed that the global championship is in countries that criminalise same-sex marriages, where people like me will be imprisoned for merely living on that land? It's frightening,” states Cavallo.

“I receive communications [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for being who I am - is assistance possible?’.

“It breaks my heart that people are getting locked up for being who they are.

“Certain nations that are huge in terms of football and they reject LGBTQ+ people. Those are the countries that tend to target me.”

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

“Football has allowed me to start conversations in the locker room. It lets me communicate and inform individuals who seek understanding.

“Not everyone is going to like you for who you are. But I've discovered support. I have found my community.

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