The footballer’s step deserved applause from great figures of international sport.
Australian midfielder Josh Cavallo said Thursday that he was overwhelmed by the demonstrations of support from around the world after coming out of the closet and becoming the only known gay player in a major league.
The footballer’s step deserved applause from great figures in international sports, from the Swedish Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the Spanish Gerard Piqué, through the French Antoine Griezmann or the English Marcus Rashford.
“I want to send a message to the whole world to show that no matter who you are, what you believe or what culture or context you come from, everyone is accepted in football,” said the Adelaide United footballer of the Australian league. Sky Sports.
“In the end, we are in 2021 and it is time to change this in football (…) I am so overwhelmed and happy with the response I have received,” said the midfielder, a former U-20 international with Australia.
Big clubs like Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur or AC Milan supported the footballer, as well as the Spanish FC Barcelona, who thanked him for “the courage” for “taking a step forward”.
“You are a champion. Soccer is for everyone, ”tweeted iconic striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“Great respect for Josh for doing this. He is brave and shares an important message that everyone deserves to be themselves, ”said Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.
Despite the immense popularity and the numerous soccer teams around the world, few male players have acknowledged being gay, something much more normalized in women’s soccer.
Among the few who have come out of the closet, most prefer to wait to hang up their boots to avoid abuse from the stadium stands.
That happened to the British Justin Fashanu, the first professional player to publicly announce his homosexuality in 1990. The sport never accepted it and in 1998 he committed suicide.
Cavallo, whose video has been viewed seven million times in less than 24 hours, hopes his decision will inspire others.
“I want the sport to evolve and allow other players in my situation to feel that they are not alone,” he said.
His Adelaide United coach, Carl Veart, said it had been a difficult decision for the young man given “the stigma attached to it (being gay) in our sport.”
“I’ve been looking forward to this day ever since Josh told me. I am very happy and very proud that he did it, “he said. (D)
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