Josh Cavallo Says He Left Adelaide United Because Of Homophobia
Image: joshua.cavallo / Instagram
Former Adelaide United player Josh Cavallo has alleged he left the A-League club due to what he described as a homophobic environment, saying the experience caused him to question whether coming out publicly had damaged his career.
In a statement posted to social media this morning, Cavallo said his contribution at the club was 鈥渃ontinuously ignored鈥� in the period leading up to his departure in May 2025, and that “people in power that blocked my opportunities, not because of my talent, but because of who I choose to love”.
The 26-year-old, who came out publicly as gay in 2021 while playing professional men鈥檚 football, said the circumstances surrounding his exit were deeply difficult.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to swallow when I realised my own club was homophobic,鈥� Cavallo wrote. He said the experience resurfaced fears he had held about being openly gay in elite men鈥檚 football, adding that it made him question whether coming out had negatively impacted his career.
“This was exactly the fear I had about coming out, seeing prejudice affect my career in modern day. For the first time, I actually questioned if I should have kept my sexuality a secret. This brought up fears I had about coming out publicly, that being myself would affect my career. I felt incredibly isolated and wondered if I鈥檇 made the mistake of sharing my story,” wrote Cavallo.
“I felt things going backwards, not just on the pitch, but in the one place I thought was a safe space and after seeing a group chat of teammates mocking a picture of me and my partner only added to this heartache.”
Cavallo joined Adelaide United in 2019 and made 49 appearances across five seasons. When his contract ended last year, the club said he was leaving to pursue opportunities overseas. He is now playing in the UK鈥檚 non-league system.
In his post, Cavallo also reflected on his connection to Adelaide and the club鈥檚 supporters, saying he would not allow the way his time ended to 鈥渞uin my connection to this city鈥�, describing Adelaide as the place where he had 鈥渇ound his wings鈥�.
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Since coming out publicly, Cavallo has spoken openly about the challenges he has faced in football, including online abuse and death threats. He has previously described professional men鈥檚 football as a 鈥渧ery toxic place鈥� for openly gay players.
Adelaide United responds to homophobia claims from Josh Cavallo
In , Adelaide United said it was 鈥渆xtremely disappointed by the claims made and categorically rejects the allegations, including any suggestion that Adelaide United is homophobic鈥�.
The club said that 鈥渁ll on-field decisions relating to team selection are made solely on footballing grounds鈥�, rejecting any suggestion that Cavallo鈥檚 sexuality influenced selection or contract decisions during his time at the club.
The team said it had 鈥渁lways been committed to fostering an inclusive environment for players, staff and supporters鈥�, and pointed to its broader work promoting diversity and inclusion across football.
The statement added that the club would continue to build on those efforts.
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I believe Josh. Officially these clubs will say they are opposed to homophobia but , just as legislation cannot control how people think and therefore the Anti Hate legislation proposed by the Australian Federal Gove rnment will achieve nothing. After well, over 2000 years – long before Christianity became a religion – Hate and Hatred was encouraged by religious leaders. Older people, Jews, Christians, Muslims, grew up being taught by the leaders of these three Abrahamic Religions to Hate. Jews were taught to hate Jesus and his followers, later jews were taught to Hate Christians and Muslims. Christians were taught to Hate Jews, Muslims and other Christians who did not comform to their type of Christianity. Muslims were taught to hate Jews and Christians.
The followers of all three were taught and encouraged to go out and kill each other and members of their own religions who don’t conform.
For example: For many centuries, including the 20rh and 21st Centuries, Roman Catholics, Anglicans and all other Christian sects were taught by their Popes. Archbishops, Kings, Queens, Presidents, Prime Ministers and other politicians that it was perfectly OK to persecute each other.
Homophobia has been so ingrained into Sports Clubs it will take many decades to make their members and players abandon their Hatred, their Discrimination of all of those who do not conform to their way of thought and at the top of that list will be Homophobia.
I’m not at all surprised about Josh Cavallo’ experiences. I experienced joy, indifference & homophobia simultaneously as an amateur player with Northern Rivers (NSW) football clubs.