• sport

• World football

Became the only declared gay footballer in the world: "Tired of living a double life"

Adelaide contact Josh Caballo came out of the closet in an emotional video and became the only active gay footballer in the world in the senior league: "It's disturbing that there is no one like me."

Australia supported

Tags

• Gays in sports

Walla!

sport

Wednesday, 27 October 2021, 10:38

• Share on Facebook

• Share on WhatsApp

• Share on general

• Share on general

• Share on Twitter

• Share on Email

0 comments

• Real Madrid - Gran Canaria 75:70

• Jürgen Klopp, Luke Shaw, talk to Niv Dovrat after ...

• Israeli MMA fighter Oron Kahlon calls his opponent a terrorist ...

• Danny Abdia, Washington Wizards

• Summary: Hapoel Beer Sheva - Hapoel Jerusalem 1: 3

• Summary: Maccabi Tel Aviv - MS.

  Ashdod 2: 0

• Summary: Celtic - France 0: 2

• Summary: Chelsea - Southampton 1: 1 (3: 4 on penalties)

• Summary: Borussia Dortmund - Ingolstadt 0: 2

• Summary: Specia - Genoa 1: 1

• Summary: Manchester United - Liverpool 5: 0 (full summary)

• Summary: Locomotive Cuban - Andorra 82:93

Josh Kabalo's Performance (From YouTube)

Australian football history: Josh Caballo, the Adelaide United midfielder, became the first footballer to come out of the closet yesterday (Tuesday), after declaring it in a brave and emotional video.

In fact, Caballo is now the only active (declared) gay footballer in the world, among players in the major leagues.

"His name is Josh Caballo, I'm 21, and I'm gay," said the midfielder, who played for Australia's youth team and is considered a promising talent, in a video released with the team's support and the platforms available to it.

"My only request is to play football and get the same treatment as the other players. I'm tired of trying to play a game, I'm tired of living a double life. It's exhausting."

Despite the macho nature of the industry, Caballo's move has been highly praised in Australia, including senior members of his team who have expressed their support, including the players' organization that welcomed the move.

More on Walla!

Senior Premier League footballer afraid to step out of the closet: "They will cross me"

To the full article

Watch Kabalo's exciting exit from the closet

"To get to the point where I was willing to talk about it, I had to go through a long journey. For six years I tried to fight my sexuality, but now I can finally let it go. There is nothing happier than me," he said with a strangled throat.

Kabalo said that "when I was growing up, I always thought I should hide myself. I was ashamed. I was afraid I would never be able to do the thing I love in the world - play football - and be gay. I denied who I was to pursue the dream. As a gay footballer in the closet, I had to hide my feelings "

It's hard to believe, but getting out of Caballo's closet is still a very rare act in the world of football.

There are currently a number of active gay footballers, but none of them play in the major leagues.

Thomas Hitzelferger, who has played for Aston Villa, Stuttgart, Lazio, West Ham and Everton is the most famous gay footballer, but he too waited a year after retirement to declare it.

Former Leeds player Robbie Rogers also came out of the closet when he retired in 2013, and has since managed to return from retirement and become the first gay athlete to win a title in one of the top sports in the United States.

The group's supportive response

Just last week the British "Sun" reported on a senior Premier League footballer who is afraid to come out of the closet, and Caballo also admits he is still worried about the consequences his announcement will have on the treatment he will receive on the pitches.

"My goal is to prove that everyone can be accepted on the pitch. Everyone has the right to be who they are on the pitch. It's pretty amazing to know that there are no gay footballers out of the closet, not just in Australia but all over the world.

• Share on Facebook

• Share on WhatsApp

• Share on general

• Share on general

• Share on Twitter

• Share on Email

0 comments