Josh Cavallo, who last year made history by becoming the first openly gay player in men’s professional football, says he aspires to play for Australia at the World Cup this winter, but he has doubts about his safety in Qatar.
The 22-year-old also disclosed in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports that he had received encouraging messages from stars like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Antoine Griezmann after coming out, and he expressed his hope that other professional athletes will follow his example.
However, there have also been negative responses to his announcement, such as the suggestion that Cavallo be ready to play in a nation where gay people’s rights are severely restricted in order to fulfill his dream of representing his country at the World Cup.
When asked whether he would be willing to travel to the country for the tournament, Cavallo said: “I’d definitely go to the World Cup, yeah.
“I want to show it’s OK for everyone. It’s not just OK for Josh Cavallo because he’s a footballer and he’s protected, I want it to be OK for that everyday person.
“But it does concern me. If I represent Australia at the World Cup – and I’m pushing for that – it would be an honour but at the same time, the laws clash. I want to do something really good in my career – I’ve always dreamed of playing for my country at the World Cup – but do I want my life to be in danger?”
