First openly gay men’s footballer accuses former club of homophobia
Adelaide United have rejected allegations of discrimination made by former player Josh Cavallo, after the footballer said his departure from the club had little to do with football and everything to do with how he was treated after coming out publicly.
Cavallo, who broke new ground for men’s professional football in 2021, said he felt increasingly sidelined following his announcement. The club insists that is not the case.
The disagreement has reopened a wider conversation about how inclusive football environments operate away from public campaigns and matchday messaging.
In October 2021, Cavallo came out as gay while playing for Adelaide United, becoming the first men’s top-flight professional footballer to do so since Justin Fashanu in 1990, according to SPORTbible. At the time, the moment was widely hailed across the sport and drew messages of support from players including Marcus Rashford, Jordan Henderson, Gary Lineker and Antoine Griezmann.
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The impact extended beyond Australia. Blackpool’s Jake Daniels later cited Cavallo’s decision as an influence when he came out in 2022 at the age of 17, becoming the first openly gay male professional footballer in the UK.
On the pitch, however, Cavallo’s role at Adelaide diminished. Despite joining the club in early 2021 and representing Australia at under-20 level, he failed to make a single appearance during the 2024–25 season. He was named on the bench eight times before leaving the club.
A move to England followed, with Cavallo initially joining Peterborough Sports before signing for semi-professional side Stamford AFC.
On Monday, Cavallo addressed his Adelaide exit directly in a statement posted on Instagram, saying fans “deserve honesty” about why his time at the club ended.
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“Leaving the club had nothing to do with football,” he wrote. “Decisions were made by people in power that blocked my opportunities, not because of my talent, but because of who I choose to love.”
He said it became clear to him that “politics” were influencing selection decisions and alleged that internal homophobia kept him out of the team. Cavallo also claimed teammates mocked a photograph of him and his partner in a group chat after he proposed on the pitch at Adelaide’s Coopers Stadium.
The experience, he said, took a personal toll.
“For the first time, I actually questioned if I should have kept my sexuality a secret,” Cavallo wrote, describing feelings of isolation that he said ran counter to the inclusive image often promoted within the game.
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Adelaide United strongly denied the allegations. In a statement reported by Sky Sports, the club said it was “extremely disappointed” by Cavallo’s claims and “categorically rejects any suggestion that Adelaide United is homophobic,” adding that team selection decisions are made solely on footballing grounds.
The club also pointed to its ongoing inclusion work, including its involvement in the annual Pride Cup, which it is set to host this weekend.
Now based in England, Cavallo said his move to Stamford AFC has “helped me breathe again.” He added that he remains grateful to Adelaide supporters and does not want the dispute to overshadow his connection with the city.
Sources: SPORTbible, Sky Sports
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