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“You shouldn't exist” ... “What are you doing here?” ... “Stop breathing.”

After announcing he was gay in 2021, player Josh Cavallo has received daily death threats and hateful comments on social media.

“Upon reading those comments, it broke my heart,” the player explains. “No-one wants to read things like that.

“I'm working to improve my skills and reach my full potential on the pitch, and then face criticism because of who I am. It's appalling.”

Midfielder Cavallo was playing for Adelaide United back in 2020 when he became the only openly gay top-flight male professional footballer in the world.

Recently he departed from Australia to sign with lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in the sixth division, one level below of English football.

This young athlete balances his sports career for the semi-professional team by advocating for inclusion matters and using his profile - he has more than one million followers on Instagram - to champion equality and acceptance.

“Absolutely, we've got mountains to do,” the footballer says when asked if football still has a problem with discrimination.

“I don't go more than a week without hearing about an issue.”

‘People want to harm me’

It took years for the athlete to build up the bravery to say “I'm gay” before revealing his sexuality on October 27th, 2021.

“My only desire is play football and receive fair treatment,” he stated in an accompanying video.

The player was twenty-one and building his reputation at his Australian club in Australia's top flight when, with the support of his team-mates, he announced his orientation publicly.

“I didn't know what was ahead. I had no expectations,” he recalls. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I needed to move forward.”

His emotional coming out video, entitled ‘Josh's Truth’, went viral on social media.

“My mobile phone exploded with encouraging words. It was overwhelming.”

Liverpool were among numerous famous teams around the world to express support for Cavallo, with the coach at the time the German manager saying: “I'm really thankful that he took this step because now we talk again.”

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique also expressed backing, posting online that “the world of football is lagging behind and you are helping us move forward”, while Adelaide United released a comment backing their “remarkable” and “brave” player.

Some people, however, were less welcoming.

The footballer quickly became a subject to homophobic abuse by rival supporters.

In January 2022 a competing team were penalized five thousand dollars over anti-gay abuse from fans aimed toward Cavallo during a match.

“The things I'd hear were painful and derogatory towards LGBTQ people,” he says.

“I didn't react because I knew that would only feed the haters.”

There was a frightening incident at a petrol station in Australia, where the athlete was assaulted by someone who recognised him from the media attention.

“That was a scary moment,” he recalls. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is happening - people want to harm me’.

“Is it acceptable? Definitely not. But through my disclosure, these are the consequences.

“My wish is that future individuals who comes out while competing in soccer at a high level won't face the journey I have experienced.”

The player says the daily death threats and hostile communications have affected his psychological well-being.

“It's quite sad because I must justify why I belong on the soccer pitch for being who I am,” he states.

“Heterosexual players aren't questioned and ask ‘why should you exist in football?’.

“A lot of people see me as a smiling, optimistic person. But there are days when I lean on my fiance, his name, and he gets to see a lot that happens privately.”

‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’

The player's choice to reveal his sexuality helped inspire teenage attacking player another athlete to come out as the Britain's sole publicly out playing soccer professional in spring 2022.

Nevertheless, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the Premier League.

“It would create massive change,” says Cavallo on the impact a elite athlete revealing their orientation would make.

“But I must be honest. There are a lot of scary things that would await this individual. In the world of football, being an openly gay player is a very toxic place.”

Twenty-seven years after a pioneering player - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - took his own life in 1998, Cavallo has spoken about the “toxic masculinity” that still exists in professional soccer.

“Simply attend to a game and see the unfriendly atmosphere and male-dominated culture that the crowd brings,” he explains.

“Much remains to be done to make sure there is a secure environment in soccer for people like myself and his colleague.

“Progress has been limited (more players coming out) as frequently as desired.

“My role is to continue advocating for what I think is right, and strive for taking out the toxic masculinity in soccer locker rooms and establishing secure environments.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

The player says soccer has allowed him to have conversations within team environments about revealing one's orientation.

However, he is disapproving toward soccer's global governing body, after the Middle Eastern nation, where same-sex relationships are against the law, staged the global tournament in 2022.

Future World Cup will be held in another Gulf state, where homosexuality is also illegal.

“Do I approve that the World Cup is in nations that ban gay unions, where people like me will be put in prison for just existing on their territory? It's scary,” states the athlete.

“I get messages [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I face imprisonment for my identity - is assistance possible?’.

“It's devastating that individuals are incarcerated for being who they are.

“Certain nations that are significant soccer markets and they don't accept the queer community. These places that often focus on me.”

Despite this, the footballer says he will not stop speaking up.

“Football has enabled dialogue in the changing room. It has allowed me to speak and educate people who want to learn more.

“Some will disapprove for who you are. But I have found my family. I've connected with similar people.

“My mission is to drive progress. That's my objective.”