Adelaide star Josh Cavallo victim of homophobic abuse during A-League game

Australian football made a vow to support Josh Cavallo when he came out last year. And they’ve been true to their word in a watershed moment for the Men’s game.

Australian football is staying true to its word and standing united in its support of Adelaide star Josh Cavallo after he was the target of vile homophobic abuse.

The Adelaide United star became the first current player in any Australian football code to come out when he revealed in October last year he was gay.

The 22-year-old received tremendous support from his club, the A-League and players, but had steeled himself for what he felt was inevitable abuse.

That came on Saturday night when Adelaide United took on Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park – but Cavallo has bravely called it out.

And he received the full backing of the sport, in a watershed moment for the men’s game.

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Josh Cavallo at Adelaide United training. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“I’m not going to pretend that I didn’t see or hear the homophobic abuse at the game,” Cavallo said on his social media platforms on Sunday.

“There are no words to tell you how disappointed I was. As a society it shows we still face these problems in 2022. This shouldn’t be acceptable and we need to do more to hold these people accountable.

“Hate never will win. I will never apologise for living my truth and most recently who I am outside of football.”

Cavallo’s coming out last year was extraordinary not just because he became the only current out gay player in a top-tier men’s football league anywhere in the world but because his announcement was not just supported by his club and the league but managed by them, with the promise that they would continue to support him.

This proved to be the case over the weekend, with the A-League, players’ association and Australian Professional Leagues (APL) vocal in their condemnation of the abuse and Cavallo receiving widespread public support from figures including Sam Kerr, former Socceroo Archie

Thompson and former rugby league star Ian Roberts, all standing behind last year’s vow to support the Reds player.

Football was true to its word in support Cavallo. Picture: Sarah Reed/Getty Images

Adelaide United chief executive Nathan Kosmina said the club was appalled by the verbal abuse Cavallo received from spectators at AAMI Park.

“Adelaide United is proud to be an inclusive and diverse football club and to see one of our players subjected to homophobic abuse is disappointing and upsetting,” Kosmina said.

“Josh continues to show immense courage and we join him in calling out abuse, which has no place in society and it will not be tolerated by our club.

“We will continue to work with the Australian Professional Leagues and Melbourne Victory to identify perpetrators and prosecute them accordingly.”

Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) co-chief executives Beau Busch and Kathryn Gill said Cavallo had shown “remarkable courage”.

“Josh has shown his remarkable courage and those who sought to abuse him in the stadium and online have shown their cowardice,” the pair said in a PFA statement released on social media.

“There is no place in our game, or society, for those who direct abhorrent abuse at others.

“Josh will continue to have the full support of the PFA and his peers. We will work with the APL, and the authorities, to ensure that those who subjected Josh to vile abuse are dealt with and that as a game we live up to our zero tolerance commitment.”

Melbourne Victory, who hosted the match against Cavallo’s United at AAMI Park on Saturday night, said the club was committed to celebrating diversity in football and “strongly condemns this behaviour which has no place at our club or in our game”.

“Spectators found to have breached these standards will be banned from future matches.

“The club is working with the League, Stadium and Adelaide United to investigate the matter further.”

 The A-Leagues and APL also threw their support behind Cavallo and praised him for calling out the homophobic abuse.

Their stance was lauded by former rugby league star Ian Roberts, who came out as gay during his playing career and was among the first to congratulate Cavallo for his courageous announcement last year.

Proud to see @JoshCavallo taking a stand against homophobic abuse!,” Roberts said in a Twitter thread.

“It’s up to the supporters in the stands to call out #homophobia as well. The standard we walk past is the standard that we accept!”

‘Hateful’: A-League star victim of vile homophobic abuse

Josh Cavallo has condemned homophobic abuse he was subjected to while playing for Adelaide United against Melbourne Victory on Saturday night.

Cavallo is the first openly gay male athlete to play in the A-League.

The 22-year-old made the announcement in an emotional social media statement last year.

“It’s been a journey to get to this point in my life, but I couldn’t be happier with my decision to come out,” he said at the time.

Adelaide United took on Victory at AAMI Park, with Cavallo playing 36 minutes in the 1-1 draw.

Cavallo said the abuse that was directed at him shouldn’t be acceptable and those responsible need to be held accountable.

“I’m not going to pretend that I didn’t see or hear the homophobic abuse at the game last night,” he posted on Instagram.

“There are no words to tell you how disappointed I was.

“As a society it shows we still face these problems in 2022.

“This shouldn’t be acceptable and we need to do more to hold these people accountable.

“Hate never will win. I will never apologise for living my truth and most recently who I am outside of football.

Josh Cavallo was the victim of homophobic abuse on Saturday night. Picture: Sarah Reed/Getty

“To all the young people who have received homophobic abuse, hold your heads up high and keep chasing your dreams.

“Know that there is no place in the game for this. Football is a game for everyone no matter of who you are, what colour your skin is or where you come from.”

Cavallo also called out Instagram for not doing enough to stop “hateful and hurtful messages” on the platform.

“To (Instagram) I don’t want any child or adult to have to receive the hateful and hurtful messages that I’ve received,” he said.

“I knew (truly) being who I am that I was going to come across this. It’s a sad reality that your platforms are not doing enough to stop these messages.”

Cavallo thanked those who continue to support him, saying “love will always win.”

“Thank you to all the positive messages, love and support, seeing that far outweighs the negativity. To the individuals that reached out after making a stand at the game. I commend you. Thank you to those fans, you had me emotional.”

Adelaide United chief executive Nathan Kosmina said the club was appalled by the behaviour.

“Adelaide United is proud to be an inclusive and diverse football club, and to see one of our players subjected to homophobic abuse is disappointing and upsetting,” he said.

“Josh continues to show immense courage and we join him in calling out abuse, which has no place in society, and it will not be tolerated by our club.

“We will continue to work with the Australian Professional Leagues and Melbourne Victory to identify perpetrators and prosecute them accordingly.”

Melbourne Victory released a statement on Sunday afternoon, saying the abuse had no place in the game.

“Melbourne Victory has been made aware of homophobic comments directed towards Adelaide United player, Josh Cavallo during Saturday night’s clash with the Reds at AAMI Park.

“The club is committed to celebrating diversity in football, and strongly condemns this behaviour which has no place at our club or in our game.

“Melbourne Victory sees football as a platform to unite fans no matter what background. Spectators found to have breached these standards will be banned from future matches.

“The club is working with the League, Stadium and Adelaide United to investigate the matter further.”

Originally published as Adelaide star Josh Cavallo victim of homophobic abuse during A-League game