Adelaide United Former Star Claims Homophobia Forced Him Out of Club
Josh Cavallo, a 26-year-old former Australian under-20 international, has come forward with allegations that homophobia drove him out of his former A-League club Adelaide United. The claims have sparked outrage and concern within the football community, with the club vehemently denying any wrongdoing.
Cavallo, who came out as gay in 2021, made the bombshell accusations on Instagram, stating that his departure from the club was not due to a lack of footballing talent, but rather because of "politics" and internal homophobia. He claimed that despite his best efforts to work hard and improve, his contributions were consistently ignored, leading to negativity and affecting his well-being as a professional footballer.
The midfielder-fullback also revealed that he saw teammates mocking a picture of him and his partner in a group chat, which he described as "hurtful" and further evidence of the club's homophobic culture. Adelaide United has been praised for its support of the LGBTQ+ community, with long-time chief executive Nathan Kosmina publicly condemning homophobic abuse by Melbourne Victory fans in 2022.
However, Cavallo's experience suggests that behind the scenes, a different story may have been unfolding. The former star claimed to have felt isolated and wondered if he had made a mistake by coming out publicly, fearing it would affect his career. His decision to leave Australia for England has given him a "fresh start", which he hopes will allow him to fall back in love with the sport.
Adelaide United has categorically rejected Cavallo's allegations, stating that all on-field decisions are made solely on footballing grounds and that the club is committed to fostering an inclusive environment. However, Cavallo's claims have raised questions about the club's handling of his departure and the extent to which homophobia may have played a role.
The incident has sparked a wider debate about the need for greater diversity and inclusion in Australian football, with many calling for greater transparency and accountability from clubs to ensure that all players feel welcome and supported.
Josh Cavallo, a 26-year-old former Australian under-20 international, has come forward with allegations that homophobia drove him out of his former A-League club Adelaide United. The claims have sparked outrage and concern within the football community, with the club vehemently denying any wrongdoing.
Cavallo, who came out as gay in 2021, made the bombshell accusations on Instagram, stating that his departure from the club was not due to a lack of footballing talent, but rather because of "politics" and internal homophobia. He claimed that despite his best efforts to work hard and improve, his contributions were consistently ignored, leading to negativity and affecting his well-being as a professional footballer.
The midfielder-fullback also revealed that he saw teammates mocking a picture of him and his partner in a group chat, which he described as "hurtful" and further evidence of the club's homophobic culture. Adelaide United has been praised for its support of the LGBTQ+ community, with long-time chief executive Nathan Kosmina publicly condemning homophobic abuse by Melbourne Victory fans in 2022.
However, Cavallo's experience suggests that behind the scenes, a different story may have been unfolding. The former star claimed to have felt isolated and wondered if he had made a mistake by coming out publicly, fearing it would affect his career. His decision to leave Australia for England has given him a "fresh start", which he hopes will allow him to fall back in love with the sport.
Adelaide United has categorically rejected Cavallo's allegations, stating that all on-field decisions are made solely on footballing grounds and that the club is committed to fostering an inclusive environment. However, Cavallo's claims have raised questions about the club's handling of his departure and the extent to which homophobia may have played a role.
The incident has sparked a wider debate about the need for greater diversity and inclusion in Australian football, with many calling for greater transparency and accountability from clubs to ensure that all players feel welcome and supported.
Adelaide United is like, supposed to be an inclusive club, right? And Josh Cavallo, he's been coming out as gay for years now, but still they didn't have his back? It makes me wanna wonder what's really going on behind those closed doors 
. I mean, it's one thing to say you're supportive of the LGBTQ+ community publicly, but when it comes down to it, are they actually doing anything to make sure all players feel welcome and included? 
. I hope he finds a fresh start in England, because for now, it looks like Adelaide United didn't have his best interests at heart 
.
️. It's time to hold them accountable for how they treat their players, and make sure everyone feels valued and respected 
.
It's time for them to step up their game and show us that they're all about inclusion, not just talkin' about it. 
And to Josh, I say... sorry dude, we got your back now. You deserve a fresh start and a chance to shine in a place where you can be yourself without fear of judgment. 
this is so frustrating to hear josh cavallo's story... it's just not fair that he had to go through that 
adelaide united has been touting itself as an ally to the lgbtq+ community, but if that's true then what was going on behind closed doors? 
and it's sad that josh felt like he had to leave australia for a fresh start... i wish more players would come forward and share their stories 
maybe that can bring about real change 
, you know? Like, I get it, homophobia is real and it's not okay, but to think that Josh Cavallo was driven out of his club because of it? That's just heartbreaking 
. I feel so bad for him and his partner. They must've been going through so much emotional pain. The football community needs to do better, you know? We need more support, not less.
. We need more players like him who aren't afraid to be themselves and fight for what's right 
And don't even get me started on the club's response... "we're committed to fostering an inclusive environment"... yeah right. Sounds like a load of corporate PR nonsense to me. 
. The fact that he saw teammates mocking a picture of him and his partner in a group chat is truly hurtful 
. It's not just about the football; it's about creating a culture where everyone feels valued and respected 
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. I'm glad he's found a fresh start in England, but it's also time for Adelaide United to take responsibility for their actions and make some real changes 
.
. I mean, come on, a guy claims he was driven out by homophobia but the club is like "nope, it's just football". That's not how you run an organization, mate. If it were that easy to ignore someone's contributions and just be all about the sport, everyone would do it, not just some random guy who comes out as gay. And honestly, if it was really just a case of "politics" then why did he leave? Would've been way easier to just stick around and deal with whatever drama was going down behind the scenes. I don't trust their spin on this one 
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. If the allegations are true, then Adelaide United needs to do some serious soul-searching and make changes to create a more inclusive environment 
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. We need more transparency and accountability from clubs to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported 
I mean, it's unacceptable that he felt forced out of the club because of his identity... it's like they're saying "come in, but don't be yourself" 
I think we need more people like Josh coming forward to share their experiences and help bring about change 
. Adelaide United is supposed to be all about inclusivity and support, but if Josh felt isolated and marginalized just 'cause he came out, that's not okay at all.
The fact that he had to leave because of it is proof enough for me. And don't even get me started on the club's reputation for being supportive of the LGBTQ+ community - seems like a pretty big contradiction. 
! According to stats, 71% of LGBTQ+ individuals face bullying or harassment at work, so it's no surprise Josh Cavallo felt isolated 
. A study found that 45% of Australian football clubs have a "zero-tolerance policy" for homophobic abuse, yet incidents still occur 
. Did you know that 75% of employees who reported experiencing bullying or harassment left their job? 
. Only 2.5% of professional footballers identify as LGBTQ+, but this number could increase with greater support and inclusion 
. Football should be about having fun, playing the game you love, not being judged for who you are 
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. That must've been really hurtful. And now he's had to leave Australia because of it? That's just harsh 
. We need more transparency and accountability from clubs to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported 
. Let's keep pushing forward, Australia! We can do better 
.