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“You shouldn't exist” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”

Since revealing his homosexuality in 2021, footballer the athlete has received daily death threats and hateful comments on online platforms.

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

“I'm trying to get better as a player and reach my full potential on the pitch, and then face criticism because of who I am. It's disgusting.”

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

Recently he left Australia to join non-league Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in National League North, the sixth tier of English football.

The 25-year-old combines playing for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by advocating for LGBTQ+ issues and using his profile - boasting over a million followers on social media - to promote fairness and acceptance.

“Absolutely, there's enormous work ahead,” the footballer says 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 Cavallo to work up the courage to say “I am homosexual” before revealing his sexuality on 27 October 2021.

“All I want to do is play football and receive fair treatment,” he stated in an accompanying video.

The player was 21 and making a name for himself at his Australian club in Australia's top flight when, with the support of his team-mates, he announced his orientation publicly.

“The future was uncertain. I had no expectations,” he recalls. “It felt like the right time in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”

The heartfelt revelation clip, entitled ‘Josh's Truth’, gained massive attention on digital platforms.

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

A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to express support for the player, with the coach at the time the German manager saying: “I appreciate that he did it because now we talk again.”

Spanish player Gerard Pique also expressed backing, posting online that “the world of football is lagging behind and your actions drive progress”, while Adelaide United 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 rival supporters.

During early 2022 a competing team were fined five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from fans directed at Cavallo during a match.

“The comments I encountered were hurtful and derogatory towards my community,” he says.

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

There was a frightening incident at a petrol station in Australia, where the athlete was assaulted by an individual who identified him from the media attention.

“It was terrifying,” he remembers. “I remember thinking ‘this is happening - individuals intend to hurt me’.

“Is it acceptable? Absolutely not. But by coming out, this is what it brings.

“I hope that the next person who comes out while competing in soccer at a high level won't face the journey I have endured.”

Cavallo says the constant menacing messages and hostile communications have affected his mental health.

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

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

“Many individuals see me as a cheerful, optimistic person. But there are days when I lean on my fiance, his name, and he witnesses a lot that happens behind the scenes.”

‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’

The player's choice to disclose his orientation helped inspire teenage attacking player another athlete to come out as the UK's only openly gay playing soccer professional in May 2022.

However, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the Premier League.

“It would move mountains,” comments Cavallo on the effect a Premier League player coming out would make.

“But I must be honest. Numerous frightening aspects that would await this individual. Within soccer culture, identifying as LGBTQ is a highly hostile environment.”

Twenty-seven years after a pioneering player - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - died by suicide in 1998, Cavallo has spoken about the “toxic masculinity” that persists in men's football.

“You just need to go to a game and see the hostile environment and masculinity that the audience creates,” he says.

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

“We haven't seen it (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as frequently as desired.

“I can only keep pushing for what I think is right, and work towards taking out the toxic masculinity 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 within team environments about revealing one's orientation.

Yet, he is critical of soccer's global governing body, after Qatar, where same-sex relationships are against the law, staged the global tournament in 2022.

Future World Cup is scheduled in another Gulf state, where homosexuality is similarly prohibited.

“Am I impressed that the World Cup is in countries that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be imprisoned for just existing on that land? It's frightening,” states Cavallo.

“I receive communications [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I face imprisonment for being who I am - is assistance possible?’.

“It breaks my heart that people are getting locked up for being who they are.

“Certain nations that are significant soccer markets and they don't accept LGBTQ+ people. These places that tend to target me.”

Despite this, Cavallo says he will not stop speaking up.

“Soccer has enabled dialogue in the changing room. It lets me communicate 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 what I'm here for.”