Former Adelaide United midfielder Josh Cavallo has accused the A-League club of “internal homophobia” and claims it contributed to his exit from the Australian competition.
In a statement responding to the allegations on Tuesday, Adelaide United denied Cavallo’s claims, stating the club was “extremely disappointed” and “categorically rejects” any suggestion of homophobia.
“Adelaide United is aware of a statement published on social media this morning by former player Josh Cavallo,” the club statement said.
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In an Instagram post, Josh Cavallo has made bombshell allegations against Adelaide United, claiming “internal homophobia” forced his exit. Getty
“The club is extremely disappointed by the claims made and categorically rejects the allegations, including any suggestion that Adelaide United is homophobic. All on-field decisions relating to team selection are made solely on footballing grounds.
“Adelaide United has always been committed to fostering an inclusive environment for players, staff and supporters, and we remain proud of our ongoing work to promote inclusion across football.
“Strengthening inclusivity must remain an ongoing focus for the game, and the club looks forward to hosting the fourth annual Pride Cup this weekend against Melbourne Victory.”
In 2021, then 21-year-old Cavallo became the world’s first openly gay male top-flight professional footballer.
His brave decision paved the way for other professional players to come out, but his tenure in the A-League ended abruptly last May when Adelaide United announced he would be moving abroad to pursue a new contract.
Adelaide United’s Joshua Cavallo leaves the field during the round 17 A-League Men match against Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium in 2024. Brendon Thorne via Getty Images
At the time, the club described the move as a mutual decision, claiming both parties shared a sense of respect and gratitude for Cavallo’s contribution.
In a detailed Instagram post on Tuesday, Cavallo claimed his departure from Adelaide United was driven by homophobia rather than footballing reasons such as injury and performance, as previously cited by the club.
“It’s taken me a while to digest how my time at Adelaide United ended, but I think the fans deserve honesty,” he wrote.
“Leaving the club had nothing to do with football. Decisions were made by people in power that blocked my opportunities, not because of my talent, but because of who I choose to love.
Adelaide United’s Josh Cavallo in action during the 2024 A-League Men round 16 clash against Perth Glory. Maya Thompson via Getty Images
“It became clear that I wasn’t allowed on the pitch because of politics. It’s hard to swallow when I realised my own club was homophobic.
“I was angry because people thought I was sidelined based on injuries, when in reality, it was internal homophobia that kept me on the bench.
“I stayed professional, kept my head down, and worked hard every day, which I’m proud of. Yet no matter how much I produced or improved, my contributions were continuously ignored. It brought a lot of negativity and affected my wellbeing as a professional footballer.
“This was exactly the fear I had about coming out, seeing prejudice affect my career in modern day. For the first time, I actually questioned if I should have kept my sexuality a secret. This brought up fears I had about coming out publicly, that being myself would affect my career.
“I felt incredibly isolated and wondered if I’d made the mistake of sharing my story. I felt things going backwards, not just on the pitch, but in the one place I thought was a safe space.
Josh Cavallo proposed to his partner, Leighton Morrell, in March, 2024. @joshua.cavallo via Instagram
“This fresh start in the UK has helped me breathe again, and I hope I can fall back in love with the sport that means everything to me. Despite the way it ended behind the scenes, I refuse to let it ruin my connection to this city. Adelaide is where I found my wings.”
Cavallo voiced his frustration over the club’s public narrative, claiming his absence from the pitch was wrongly attributed to recurring injuries.
For nearly 18 months, Adelaide United’s official line maintained that the midfielder was sidelined by a long-term Achilles rupture and subsequent quad issues.
However, Cavallo now alleges the club used his medical history as a convenient cover to exclude him.
Adelaide United will host the fourth annual Pride Cup match as part of a double-header against Melbourne Victory on Saturday.