Josh Cavallo accuses Adelaide United of 'internal homophobia' behind his exit

Goal reports that Josh Cavallo, the first openly gay active professional male footballer, has accused his former club Adelaide United of "internal homophobia" that limited his playing time and led to his exit from the A-League, and said teammates mocked his relationship.

Cavallo posted on Instagram on Tuesday, saying decisions by "people in power" blocked his opportunities "not because of my talent, but because of who I choose to love." He said his last game for the Reds was in February 2024 and that he left the A-League in May, adding that public explanations — including a hamstring strain and recovery from a ruptured Achilles — were a smokescreen. He wrote, "I realised my own club was homophobic," and described joining Stamford in England as a fresh start that has helped him "breathe again." The timing of his statement came three days before Adelaide United's annual Pride Cup fixture.

Adelaide United issued a statement on Tuesday saying it was "extremely disappointed by the claims made and categorically rejects the allegations, including any suggestion that Adelaide United is homophobic." The club added that "all on-field decisions relating to team selection are made solely on footballing grounds" and pointed to its ongoing work to promote inclusion.

Key Topics

Sports, Josh Cavallo, Adelaide United, Stamford, A-league, Pride Cup