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

Since revealing his homosexuality in 2021, footballer the athlete has faced constant threats and hateful comments on online platforms.

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

“I'm trying to get better as a player and be the best I can be during matches, and then get put down because of who I am. It's appalling.”

Midfielder the sportsman 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 departed from Australia to sign with non-league Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in the sixth division, the sixth tier of the English soccer system.

This young athlete combines playing for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by speaking up on inclusion matters and leveraging his platform - he has more than one million followers on Instagram - to champion equality and inclusion.

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

“I don't go more than a week without encountering problems.”

‘People want to harm me’

Several years passed for the athlete to build up the bravery to say “I am homosexual” before coming out on October 27th, 2021.

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

Cavallo was 21 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 didn't know what to expect,” he recalls. “It felt like the right time in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”

His emotional coming out video, entitled ‘Josh's Truth’, gained massive attention on social media.

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

Liverpool were among numerous famous teams around the world to show solidarity with the player, with the coach at the time Jurgen Klopp saying: “I appreciate that he took this step because now we talk again.”

Barcelona defender the athlete also offered support, writing on social media that “the world of football is far behind and your actions drive progress”, while Adelaide United released a comment backing their “extraordinary” and “courageous” player.

Others, however, were not so accepting.

Cavallo quickly became a subject to homophobic abuse by rival supporters.

During early 2022 a competing team were fined five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from fans aimed toward Cavallo during a game.

“The comments I encountered were painful and disparaging towards LGBTQ people,” he says.

“I remained calm because I knew that would only feed the haters.”

A scary event occurred at a petrol station in Australia, where the athlete was assaulted by someone who recognised him from the media attention.

“It was terrifying,” he remembers. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is real - individuals intend to hurt me’.

“Is it acceptable? Definitely not. But by coming out, these are the consequences.

“I hope that the next person who comes out while playing football at a high level doesn't have to experience the journey I have endured.”

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

“It's quite sad because I am having to explain why I belong on the football field 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, positive person. But sometimes when I lean on my fiance, Leighton, and he gets to see much of what occurs privately.”

‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’

Cavallo's decision to disclose his orientation helped prompt 17-year-old attacking player Jake Daniels to announce he was gay 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 Premier League.

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

“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. There are a lot of scary things that would come this person's way. In the world of football, identifying as LGBTQ is a very toxic place.”

Over two decades after a pioneering player - the UK's initial out soccer professional - died by suicide in 1998, Cavallo has spoken about the “harmful male culture” that still exists in men's football.

“Simply attend to a match and observe the unfriendly atmosphere and male-dominated culture that the crowd brings,” he explains.

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

“We haven't seen it (more players coming out) 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 creating a safe space.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

The player says football has allowed him to have conversations inside dressing rooms about revealing one's orientation.

Yet, he is disapproving toward Fifa, after Qatar, where homosexual partnerships are against the law, staged the global tournament in 2022.

The 2034 tournament is scheduled in Saudi Arabia, where same-sex attraction is also illegal.

“Do I approve that the global championship is in nations that criminalise same-sex marriages, where people like me will be put in prison for merely living on their territory? It's scary,” says the athlete.

“I get messages [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I face imprisonment for my identity - can you help me?’.

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

“Certain nations that are huge in terms of football and they reject the queer community. Those are the countries that often focus on me.”

Nevertheless, Cavallo says he won't cease advocating.

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

“Some will disapprove for who you are. But I've discovered support. I've connected with similar people.

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