Soccer is gay

This summer he left Australia to join non-league Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about in National League North, the sixth tier of English football. I didn't know what to expect," he says. From World Cup stars to lower-league heroes, meet the gay and bi male footballers who have blazed trails in soccer around the world.

But there are days when I lean on my fiance, Leighton, and he gets to see a lot that happens behind the scenes. Others, however, were not so accepting. There are a number of openly LGBTQ players in women's association football, with relatively few in the men's game.

Cavallo's decision to reveal his sexuality helped prompt year-old Blackpool forward Jake Daniels to come out as the UK's only openly gay active male professional footballer in May However, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the Premier League.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique also offered support, writing on social media that "the world of football is far behind and you are helping us move forward", while Adelaide United issued a statement backing their "remarkable" and "brave" player.

In the world of football, being an openly gay player is a very toxic place. 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 publicly came out.

International Gay amp Lesbian

His emotional coming out video, entitled 'Josh's Truth', went viral on social media. How has Cavallo been received in the dressing room at Peterborough Sports? Liverpool were one of many high-profile clubs around the world to express support for Cavallo, with then manager Jurgen Klopp saying: "I'm really thankful that he did it because now we talk again.

Absolutely not. There are a lot of scary things that would come this person's way. But by coming out, this is what it brings. I wanted to take the next step forward. Everyone has been nice. It's disgusting. It took years for Cavallo to work up the courage to say "I'm gay" before coming out on 27 October In former Aston Villa and Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger announced he was gay after retiring from football.

Midfielder Cavallo was at Adelaide United four years ago when he became the only openly gay top-flight male professional footballer in the world. There was a frightening incident at a petrol station in Australia, where Cavallo was physically attacked by someone who recognised him from the coverage.

Since coming out as gay infootballer Josh Cavallo has received daily death threats and abusive messages on social media. It was overwhelming. Twenty-seven years after Justin Fashanu - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - took his own life inCavallo has spoken about the "toxic masculinity" that still exists in men's football.

Cavallo quickly became a target of homophobic abuse by opposition fans. Cavallo says the daily death threats and abusive messages have taken a toll on his mental health.

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Most of the LGBT+ male players have come out after retirement. Twenty-seven years after Justin Fashanu - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - took his own life inCavallo has spoken about the "toxic masculinity" that still exists in men's football.

Homophobia has been widespread in men's association football, also known as soccer, throughout the world. The respect is there.