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All the weight of Josh Cavallo coming out

The name does not sound familiar even to those who can call themselves an expert in football. The Australian midfielder Joshua Cavallo however, he is ready to go down in history as one of the first to have done so coming out in attività, indeed at the beginning of his football career, given that he is just 21 years old. “I am a footballer and I am gay,” he wrote on Twitter and then recounted it in a video posted by his team. “I’m tired of living this double life. It’s maddening, something I don’t want others to experience. ‘

The news came on the day in which, in Italy, the Zan bill against discrimination and violence based on sex, gender or disability was ditched in the Senate. Compared to the darkness of this missed measure, it is a glimmer of light in one of the most homophobic environments, that of men’s sport and in particular the world of football.

Josh’s experience could be that of many others. “I always hid because I was ashamed of not being able to do what I loved and being gay at the same time. Hide who I really am to continue chasing the dream I’ve had since I was a child. All I wanted was to play football and be treated like the others ».

The coming out of the Australian footballer follows a few days after that of an English referee and the anonymous statements of a footballer who does not find the courage to come out. The 37-year-old referee James Adcock he invited others to make the same choice as him: «I’m gay, everyone knows it: colleagues and players. Time to reiterate it. Many said they were proud of me, the truth is that there are still many barriers to break down ».

The previous cases are very few. Among those who are active, even if not in the leading leagues, is the American Collin Martin, in 2018. There was Robbie Rogers always in the USA, in 2013. The German midfielder former Lazio, Thomas Hitzlsperger, has done a year after the retirement. There is the case of the attacker Justin Fashanu, who committed suicide. There is the Swede Anton Hysén. Those who come out or no longer play or are in minor leagues.

The football that matters is not ready, but if no one talks, when will it ever be? This is why Cavallo’s coming out is important and above all the immediate support from his club in Adelaide, the Australian Football Association and Sydney Fc. The messages arrived from Europe weigh even more: those of Claudio Marchisio, Atlético Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann and Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué: “The world of football is still far behind and you are helping us to advance it.”

In Europe we see the greatest resistance, on the part of some players. A few months ago Philipp Lahm, former captain of the German national team, the one who won the 2014 World Cup, wrote a book, The game. The world of football, which tells the world of football seen from the inside. In this he suggests that footballers should not claim to be homosexual. “The ability to accept is still lacking, in the world of football and in society in general. If someone had in mind to do so and were to ask me for advice, I would suggest that they consult with a trusted person and honestly come to terms with himself, on what are the real reasons for this step “. The advice would be never to talk about it with teammates. “He could not count on the same maturity in his opponents or on the fields, he would have to endure insults and defamations.”

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