Australian footballer

Josh Cavallo

announced his homosexuality on Wednesday in an emotional video posted on social networks, which has been applauded and supported by teammates and former elite athletes.

"There is something I must share: I am a footballer and I am gay," he said.

"It has been a journey to get to this point in my life, but I couldn't be happier with my decision to come out of the closet.

I have been struggling with my sexuality for over six years and I am happy to be able to park it,

" said the midfielder of the Adelaida United, 21, in a video shared on her club's account.

The young man, who defined himself as a "very reserved" person, said how he always felt the need to hide because he was ashamed of his homosexuality.

"Ashamed that he would never be able to do what he loved and be gay. Hiding who he really was, to pursue a dream I always wanted as a child.

Playing soccer and being treated the same as everyone else never seemed a reality,

" said Cavallo.

The young man recounted how being a gay footballer made him learn to hide his feelings "to fit the professional footballer mold" and described how "growing up gay and playing soccer were two worlds whose paths had never crossed."

"I've lived with the assumption that this was a topic I could never talk about," he

said.

In this sense, he affirmed that he wanted to change the silence with which other players live their sexuality,

by becoming the first active high-level footballer to publicly declare that he is gay

.

Josh Cavallo, during a match with Adelaida.EFE

Former Australian footballer

Craig Foster

, a prominent human rights activist, applauded Cavallo's message on social media.

"No one should have to hide who they are, the ball does not care about color, race, religion, gender or sexuality," said Foster, a 29-time international with his country.

Adelaida United's teammates also publicly showed their support for the Australian player, including Spaniard

Javi López

, who played more than 250 games with Espanyol de Barcelona.

"Congratulations on your bravery and proud of you," said the Spanish footballer.

The closest case is that of fellow Australian

Andy Brennan

, who in 2019 declared himself gay when he played in the Australian second division, although he had previously played in the country's top flight for the Newcastle Jets.

Thomas Hitzlsperger

, a former German player for Aston Villa, Stuttgart, Lazio, West Ham, Wolfsburg and Everton is the most prominent footballer to have acknowledged his homosexuality, but he did so a year after his retirement in 2013.

American

Robbie Rogers

, who came to play for Leeds in the English Premier League, also revealed that he was gay after hanging up his boots that same year.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • sports

UEFA Nations League: Spain's antidote to France

UEFA Nations LeagueLuis Enrique: "I'm only worried about trying to win; the rest is a show"

FootballThe PSG, on the interest in Mbappé: "Madrid should be punished because they have been trying to sign him for two years"

See links of interest

  • La Palma volcano

  • Last News

  • Translator

  • What

  • Holidays 2021

  • 2022 business calendar

  • Home THE WORLD TODAY

  • Master investigative journalism

  • Alaves - Elche

  • AS Monaco - Red Star

  • Fenerbahce Istanbul - Barça

  • Olympiacos Piraeus - Alba Berlin

  • Maccabi Fox Tel Aviv - Zalgiris Kaunas