Josh Cavallo, who made history in 2021 as the first openly gay active professional male footballer, has levelled serious accusations of homophobia against his former club Adelaide United.
The 26-year-old, now playing for non-league English side Stamford, claims discrimination rather than sporting considerations was responsible for his lack of playing time and ultimate departure from the A-League outfit.
The timing of his allegations is particularly striking, arriving merely three days before Adelaide United’s fourth annual Pride Cup fixture against Melbourne Victory.
“It’s hard to swallow when I realised my own club was homophobic,” Cavallo wrote on Instagram.
Josh Cavallo blamed ‘internal homophobia’ after he was benched
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PA
“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.”
The footballer alleged that a photograph of himself and his partner was ridiculed by teammates in a group chat, an incident that cut particularly deep.
“Decisions were made by people in power that blocked my opportunities, not because of my talent, but because of who I choose to love,” he stated.
Cavallo attributed his sidelining to political machinations following a change in management at the club.
“Under the new management, it became clear that I wasn’t allowed on the pitch because of politics,” he explained.
“For the first time, I actually questioned if I should have kept my sexuality a secret.”
Adelaide United has responded with a robust rebuttal, categorically rejecting all accusations levelled against the club.
“The Club is extremely disappointed by the claims made and categorically rejects the allegations, including any suggestion that Adelaide United is homophobic,” the statement read.
The club insisted that playing time is determined purely by sporting merit. “All on-field decisions relating to team selection are made solely on footballing grounds.”
Adelaide United emphasised its ongoing dedication to diversity within the sport.
“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.”
Cavallo’s decision to come out publicly in 2021 garnered widespread support from across the footballing world, establishing him as a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ representation in men’s sport.
Josh Cavallo insisted a picture of him and his boyfriend was ridiculed by his Adelaide teammates
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His courage inspired Jake Daniels, who in 2022 became the first British professional male footballer to come out in over three decades.
During his four-year tenure at Adelaide, Cavallo made 52 appearances.
Club Statement: Adelaide United Responds to Social Media Claims.
Adelaide United is aware of a statement published on social media this morning by former player, Josh Cavallo.
Read More → https://t.co/UGs8NExOgp pic.twitter.com/iqk5anfscT
— Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) January 13, 2026
An Achilles tendon injury sidelined him from February 2023 until January 2024, and he did not feature at all during the 2024-25 campaign, serving as an unused substitute on eight occasions.
“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,” he said.
