Pique and Griezmann Support Cavallo for Coming Out as Openly Gay

Gerard Pique and Antoine Griezmann have applauded Josh Cavallo for becoming the only current top-flight male professional to come out. The Australian A-League player’s announcement is football news that follows a closeted Premier League player’s fearful open letter last year. And now, his revelation has seen Pique and Griezmann support Cavallo for coming out as openly gay just yesterday.

Cavallo, an Adelaide United defender, made the announcement on social media on Wednesday with a video and an open letter.

In doing so, he has effectively become the world’s first openly homosexual top-flight male footballer.

The announcement is monumental for the sporting community, and Cavallo hopes it will inspire others to follow in his footsteps.

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

“It is astonishing to know that there are currently no gay professional footballers who are out and actively playing, not only in Australia but around the world.

“Hopefully this will change in the near future.”

Cavallo’s announcement drew significant applause, with Barcelona star Gerard Pique hailing the 21-year-old’s courage for going public with his feelings.

Pique and Griezmann Support Cavallo for Coming Out as Openly Gay

“I don’t have the pleasure to know you personally, but I want to thank you for this step that you take,” Gerard Pique posted on Twitter, in reaction to Josh Cavallo’s coming out.

“The world of football is far behind and you are helping us move forward.”

And in fact, Gerard Pique from Barcelona is among many who have shown their support for A-League star Josh Cavallo.

Pique’s former Barca team-mate and current Atletico Madrid loanee Antoine Griezmann also wrote words of support: “Proud of you @JoshuaCavallo”.

Relatedly, Barcelona was one of a number of teams to commend Cavallo, posting: “THANK YOU, @JoshuaCavallo for taking a huge step forward!

“Your courage contributes to normalizing diversity in the world of sports.”

Premier League side Arsenal also tweeted optimistically about the revelation.

Their Twitter read: “Thank you @JoshuaCavallo for your strength and bravery…

“You are an inspiration to millions. Everyone deserves the right to be themselves.”

Several other top-flight players, such former Aston Villa player Thomas Hitzlsperger, have already come out as gay. But they could only do so after their professional careers ended. On the other hand, Cavallo is 21 years old, with his whole career ahead of him.