Football: Josh Cavallo Comes Out!
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
Josh Cavallo, Australian professional footballer, has hit the global sporting headlines for perhaps all the wrong reasons!
On 27 October 2021, the 21 year old midfielder, who plays for Adelaide United, announced on social media that he is gay.
He stated:
“I’m a footballer and I’m gay.”
And added:
“All I want to do is play football and be treated equally.”
He is believed to be the first current professional footballer to come out.
Football is probably the most popular sport in the world and only a few retired players have admitted that they are gay, apart from the British player Justin Fashanu, who came out whilst still playing in 1990 and found difficulty in being accepted and committed suicide in 1998.
Cavallo is to be congratulated on coming out and perhaps he will be followed by others in the future.
Certainly, sport in general and football, in particular, should be inclusive and open to all without any discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation!
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
