Pioneering gay footballer Josh Cavallo has accused his former club, Adelaide United, of sidelining him because of his sexuality, alleging what he described as “internal homophobia” within the team.
Cavallo, who made global headlines in 2021 after coming out as gay while actively playing top-tier football, made the allegation in an Instagram post on Tuesday.
The Australian footballer recently joined semi-professional English side Stamford AFC, after leaving Adelaide United in May 2025.
Reflecting on his exit from the club, Cavallo said it took him time to process what happened but decided to speak out for the sake of honesty.
“It’s hard to swallow when I realised my own club was homophobic,” he wrote. “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.”
Cavallo claimed that a change in management led to what he described as “politics” that affected his playing time and limited his career chances.
He also alleged that a photo of him and his partner was mocked by teammates in a group chat, an experience he said deeply affected him.
“For the first time, I actually questioned if I should have kept my sexuality a secret,” Cavallo added.
In response, Adelaide United strongly denied the allegations.
A spokesperson for the club said, “Adelaide United categorically rejects these claims. All on-field decisions relating to team selection are made solely on footballing grounds.”
The club said it was “extremely disappointed” by Cavallo’s comments and insisted it remains committed to inclusion.
“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,” the spokesperson said.
The club is scheduled to take part in its fourth Pride Cup match this weekend.
Cavallo has previously spoken about facing frequent abuse and death threats following his decision to come out but has maintained that he has no regrets.
His 2021 announcement made him the first openly gay male player competing in a top-tier professional league.
His decision later inspired other players, including British footballer Jake Daniels, who came out in 2022 at the age of 17.
