The Australian footballer Josh Cavallo has announced this Wednesday his homosexuality in a emotional video posted on social media, which has been applauded and seconded by fellow and ex-elite athletes.
“It’s been a journey to get to this point in my life, but I couldn’t be happier with my decision to get out of the closet. I’ve been struggling with my sexuality for over six years and I’m glad I can. to park, “the 21-year-old Adelaide United midfielder said in a video shared on his club’s account.
The young man, who has defined himself as a “very reserved” person, explained how he always felt the need to hide. because he was ashamed of his homosexuality.
“Embarrassed by the fact that I would never be able to do what I loved and be gay. Hiding who I really was, to pursue a dream I always wanted as a child. Playing football and being treated like everyone else never seemed a reality.” , said Cavallo.
The young man has recounted how being a gay footballer in the closet made him learn to hide his feelings “to fit into the mold of the professional footballer” and described how “growing up being gay and playing football were back mons the paths of which had never crossed. “” I have lived assuming that this was a subject I could never talk about, “he said.
In this sense, he stated that he wanted to change the silence with which other players live their sexuality, by becoming the first active footballer high-level to publicly declare that he is gay.
The former Australian footballer Craig Foster, a prominent human rights activist, has applauded Cavallo’s message on social media. “No one should have to hide who they are, the ball doesn’t care about color, race, religion, gender or sexuality,” remarked Foster, an international with his country on 29 occasions.
Adelaide United’s teammates have also publicly shown their support for the Australian player, including Spain’s Javi Lopez, who played more than 250 games for Barcelona’s Espanyol. “Congratulations on your courage and proud of you,” said the Spanish footballer.
The closest case is that of fellow Australian Andy Brennan, who in 2019 declared himself gay when he played in the Australian second division, although he had previously played in the highest category in the country for the Newcastle Jets.
Thomas Hitzlsperger, a former German player for Aston Villa, Stuttgart, Lazio, West Ham, Wolfsburg and Everton is the most prominent footballer to have acknowledged his homosexuality, but did so a year after his retirement in 2013.
American Robbie Rogers, who came to play for English Premier League side Leeds, also revealed he was gay after hanging up his boots that same year.
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