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

After announcing his homosexuality in 2021, player the athlete has received daily death threats and hateful comments on online platforms.

“Upon reading those comments, I was devastated,” Cavallo states. “Nobody should have to endure such words.

“I'm working to improve my skills and be the best I can be during matches, and then face criticism because of who I am. It's disgusting.”

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

Recently he departed from Australia to sign with lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in the sixth division, one level below of the English soccer system.

The 25-year-old combines playing for the semi-professional team by advocating for inclusion matters and leveraging his platform - boasting over a million followers on social media - to promote fairness and inclusion.

“Absolutely, there's enormous work ahead,” Cavallo comments when asked if football still has a problem with discrimination.

“I don't go more than a week without hearing about an issue.”

‘People want to harm me’

Several years passed for Cavallo to work up the courage to say “I am homosexual” before coming out on 27 October 2021.

“My only desire is play football and be treated equally,” he stated in an related clip.

The player was twenty-one and building his reputation at his Australian club in Australia's top flight when, with the support of his team-mates, he publicly came out.

“I didn't know what was ahead. I didn't know what to expect,” he recalls. “It felt like the right time in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”

The heartfelt revelation clip, entitled ‘His Personal Story’, gained massive attention on digital platforms.

“My phone was flooded with encouraging words. It was overwhelming.”

A prominent club were one of many high-profile clubs around the world to express support for Cavallo, with then manager Jurgen Klopp saying: “I appreciate that he did it because now we talk again.”

Spanish player the athlete also offered support, writing on social media that “the world of football is lagging behind and you are helping us move forward”, while his former club released a comment backing their “extraordinary” and “courageous” player.

Others, however, were not so accepting.

The footballer soon turned into a target of homophobic abuse by opposition fans.

During early 2022 a competing team were penalized A$5,000 over discriminatory chants from spectators directed at Cavallo during a game.

“The things I'd hear were hurtful and derogatory towards my community,” he explains.

“I didn't react because I knew that would only feed the haters.”

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

“It was terrifying,” he recalls. “I remember thinking ‘this is happening - people want to harm me’.

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

“I hope that the next person who reveals their orientation while playing football at a professional standard won't face the path I have experienced.”

The player says the constant menacing messages and abusive messages have taken a toll on his psychological well-being.

“It's quite sad because I must justify why I deserve a place on the football field 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 smiling, positive person. But there are days when I rely on my partner, Leighton, and he witnesses a lot that happens behind the scenes.”

‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’

The player's choice to reveal his sexuality helped inspire 17-year-old Blackpool forward Jake Daniels to announce he was gay as the Britain's sole publicly out active male professional footballer in May 2022.

Nevertheless, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the top English division.

“It would create massive change,” comments Cavallo on the impact a elite athlete coming out would have.

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

Twenty-seven years after a pioneering player - the UK's initial out soccer professional - died by suicide in 1998, Cavallo has discussed the “toxic masculinity” that still exists in professional soccer.

“Simply attend to a game and see the unfriendly atmosphere and male-dominated culture that the crowd brings,” he says.

“There is still a lot of work to make sure there is a secure environment in soccer for individuals like me and his colleague.

“We haven't seen it (more players coming out) 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 football changing rooms and establishing secure environments.”

‘I'm here to create change’

The player says soccer has enabled discussions within team environments about revealing one's orientation.

Yet, he is disapproving toward soccer's global governing body, after Qatar, where homosexual partnerships are against the law, staged the global tournament in 2022.

The 2034 tournament will be held in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is similarly prohibited.

“Am I impressed that the global championship is in nations that criminalise same-sex marriages, where people like me will be imprisoned for merely living on their territory? It's scary,” says Cavallo.

“I receive communications [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I face imprisonment for my identity - is assistance possible?’.

“It's devastating that individuals are incarcerated for being who they are.

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

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

“Football has enabled dialogue in the changing room. It has allowed me to speak and inform individuals who want to learn more.

“Not everyone is going to like you for your identity. But I have found my family. I've connected with similar people.

“My mission is to create change. That's what I'm here for.”