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

Since revealing he was gay in 2021, footballer Josh Cavallo has faced constant threats and abusive messages on social media.

“When I first saw these messages, it broke my heart,” Cavallo states. “Nobody should have to endure such words.

“I'm trying to get better as a player and be the best I can be on the pitch, 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 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 National League North, one level below of English football.

This young athlete combines playing for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by advocating for LGBTQ+ issues and using his profile - boasting over a million followers on Instagram - to promote fairness and acceptance.

“Definitely, 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 encountering problems.”

‘Individuals wish to hurt me’

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

“All I want to do is compete in soccer and be treated equally,” he stated in an related clip.

Cavallo was twenty-one and making a name for himself 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 says. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”

The heartfelt revelation clip, titled ‘Josh's Truth’, went viral on social media.

“My mobile phone exploded with encouraging words. It was overwhelming.”

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

Spanish player Gerard Pique also expressed backing, posting online that “soccer culture is far behind and you are helping us move forward”, while his former club issued a statement backing their “remarkable” and “courageous” player.

Some people, however, were less welcoming.

The footballer quickly became a subject to anti-gay remarks by rival supporters.

During early 2022 a competing team were penalized five thousand dollars over anti-gay abuse from fans aimed toward the player during a game.

“The comments I encountered were painful and disparaging towards LGBTQ people,” 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 assaulted 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, this is what it brings.

“My wish is that the next person who comes out while playing football at a high level won't face the journey I have experienced.”

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

“It's quite sad because I must justify why I deserve a place on the soccer pitch for being who I am,” he states.

“Heterosexual players aren't questioned and ask ‘why should you exist in football?’.

“A lot of people see me as a smiling, positive person. But sometimes when I lean on my fiance, Leighton, and he witnesses much of what occurs behind the scenes.”

‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’

The player's choice to reveal his sexuality helped inspire teenage attacking player another athlete to come out as the UK's only openly gay active male professional footballer in spring 2022.

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

“It would move mountains,” says Cavallo on the impact a elite athlete coming out would make.

“But I must be honest. There are a lot of scary things that would await this individual. Within soccer culture, identifying as LGBTQ 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 spoken about the “harmful male culture” that persists in men's football.

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

“Much remains to be done to make sure there is a safe space in soccer for individuals like me and Jake.

“Progress has been limited (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as frequently as desired.

“My role is to continue advocating for what I think is right, and strive for eliminating the harmful male norms in soccer locker rooms and establishing secure environments.”

‘I'm here to create change’

The player says football has allowed him to have conversations within team environments about coming out.

However, he is critical of soccer's global governing body, after the Middle Eastern nation, where homosexual partnerships are against the law, staged the global tournament in 2022.

The 2034 tournament will be held in another Gulf state, where same-sex attraction is also illegal.

“Am I impressed that the World Cup is in countries that criminalise same-sex marriages, where individuals like myself will be put in prison for just existing on their territory? It's frightening,” says the athlete.

“I receive communications [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I face imprisonment for being who I am - can you help me?’.

“It's devastating that people are getting locked up for being who they are.

“There are countries that are huge in terms of football and they don't accept LGBTQ+ people. These places that often focus on me.”

Despite this, the footballer says he will not stop speaking up.

“Soccer has enabled dialogue in the locker room. It has allowed me to speak and inform individuals who seek understanding.

“Some will disapprove for who you are. But I have found my family. I've connected with similar people.

“My purpose is to create change. That's my objective.”