A-League club denies homophobia claims from former player

A former Adelaide United player has alleged that the A-League club “wasn’t allowed on the pitch” because of a homophobic culture, which the club has “categorically” denied.

Earlier this morning (13 January) Australian time, professional footballer Josh Cavallo took to social media to discuss his departure from Adelaide United in May of last year.

In an Instagram post, Cavallo alleged that his leaving of the A-League franchise “had nothing to do with football”.

“Decisions were made by people in power that blocked my opportunities, not because of my talent, but because of who I choose to love. Under the new management, it became clear that I wasn’t allowed on the pitch because of politics,” he said.

“It’s hard to swallow when I realised my own club was homophobic.

“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. I stayed professional, kept my head down, and worked hard every day which I’m proud of. Yet no matter how much I produced or improved, my contributions were continuously ignored. It brought a lot of negativity and affected my wellbeing as a professional footballer.”

Cavallo, now playing for English club Stamford, made 49 appearances for Adelaide United between 2021 and 2025.

In a statement published hours after Cavallo’s Instagram post, Adelaide United noted it is “extremely disappointed” by the claims made, and said it “categorically rejects” the allegations.

This includes, the club wrote, “any suggestion that Adelaide United is homophobic”.

“All on-field decisions relating to team selection are made solely on footballing grounds,” the club said.

“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. Strengthening inclusivity must remain an ongoing focus for the game, and the club looks forward to hosting the fourth annual Pride Cup this weekend against Melbourne Victory.”

In October 2021, Cavallo became Australia’s first openly gay professional footballer.

In a social media post at that time, he wrote: “In football, you only have a small window to achieve greatness, and coming out publicly may have a negative impact on my career. As a gay footballer, I know there are other players living in silence.

“I want to help change this, to show that everyone is welcome in the game of football, and deserves the right to be their authentic self.”

His post concluded: “To my Adelaide United family, thank you for greeting me with the utmost respect and acceptance. I’m incredibly grateful.”