Coming out scores flood of support, praise from stars
THE emotional coming out video posted by rising Australian football star Josh Cavallo has been viewed more than six million times as support floods in for the 21-year-old’s landmark revelation.
Cavallo, who plays for Adelaide United in the A-League, on Wednesday became the first top-tier professional footballer in the world to come out as gay, hoping to lead the way for others.
Adelaide coach Carl Veart declared he hoped Cavallo would be “bigger and better” as a person and footballer after freeing himself of the mental burden of carrying what the young midfielder said made him “hide himself away”.
The support has flooded in from some of world football’s biggest stars, including Swedish megastar Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who labelled Cavallo a “champion”. “You are a Champion.
Football is for everybody. Big respect,” Ibrahimovic posted on Twitter.
The story was covered worldwide by the biggest news agencies, including the BBC and CNN. Every major football club from Sunderland to Athletic Bilbao to Liverpool and Juventus threw support behind Cavallo.
Cavallo said he knew the potential negative repercussions of his announcement, but hoped his decision to come out would inspire other closeted male footballers and “show that everyone is welcome in the game of football”.
“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.
“I have been fighting my sexuality for over six years now, and I’m glad I can put that to rest. I hope that in sharing who I am, I can show others who identify as LGBTQ+ that they are welcome in the football community. As the game of football keeps expanding, I want to help evolve the game even further and let other players in my situation feel that they’re not alone.”
Veart said Cavallo, who has played 19 games for the Reds and signed a long-term deal with the club, could now be the “best person” he could be.
“We are living in 2021 and it’s a normal part of life, I believe,” Veart said.