In October 2021, Australian Josh Cavallo (24) became the first professional footballer to come out as gay.
Since then, he has become an important voice for the LGBTQ+ community in sports.
In the last ten years, the English top league, the Premier League, has periodically used rainbow armbands to support the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.
Came forward as gay: – Received death threats
– Disappointing
In December 2023, between 2nd and 7th December, Premier League clubs showed their support with these captain’s armbands during the ten year anniversary of the ‘Rainbow laces campaign’.
But not all the players appeared on the pitch with the captain’s armband.
DUEL: Anel Ahmedhodzic in a battle for the ball with Norwegian Sander Berge. Photo: Darren Staples / AFP / NTB
view more
Sheffield United centre-back, Anel Ahmedhodzic, was given the honor of being captain when “The Blades” faced Liverpool last December. But the Swedish-Bosnian played without a rainbow armband during the campaign period.
According to the Daily Mail, he was the first captain in seven years to ditch the rainbow colored captain’s armband.
Just a few days earlier, team-mate Oliver Norwood lined up with the captain’s armband in the colors of the rainbow.
See the picture below:
SUPPORTED THE CAMPAIGN: Oliver Norwood. Photo: Reuters / Ed Sykes / NTB
view more
In front of SVT, he only replied: “Guess”, when he was confronted with the fact that he avoided supporting the campaign.
The behavior disgusted the 24-year-old Australian footballer.
– It is disappointing and hurtful. They don’t realize how big of an impact it can have on the LGBTQ+ community. It breaks my heart every time I see something like that. It is not acceptable, Cavallo tells The Mirror.
Before he continues:
– There are certain things you can or cannot say on the pitch because you will be sent off. There are things you can and cannot do in public as a professional athlete. So to do that is disgusting to me.
Watch the video in which the Australian football star opens up about his orientation here:
view more
Want to see change
The Australian emphasizes that the Premier League stars have been quiet outside of the one week in December when it comes to showing support.
The 24-year-old believes wearing rainbow bracelets all season could have been a step in the right direction.
– Could get furious
– Yes, how cool would that have been? It’s great for myself, but it’s also great for the little Joshs coming up, or whoever it is that watches TV and doesn’t want to go to a local football game because they’re scared,” Cavallo concludes.
