Adelaide United has denied claims of homophobia made by the club’s former player Josh Cavallo.
At the time, Cavallo was a regular starter for Adelaide United, but his opportunities with the Australian A-League side diminished after he suffered a torn Achilles in 2023.
Cavallo returned in 2024 to make four league appearances, but saw his season end early after a hamstring injury. The left back didn’t appear in a single league match for Adelaide last season, leaving the club at the end of the campaign.
The 26-year-old now plays in England for non-league side Stamford AFC. In an explosive post on Instagram Monday, Jan. 12, Cavallo said that his opportunities in Australia were limited because of who he is – not his ability.
‘Leaving the club had nothing to do with football,’ he said. ‘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. It’s hard to swallow when I realized my own club was homophobic.’
Cavallo added that he saw a group chat of teammates mocking a picture of him and his partner.
Adelaide United quickly released a statement in response to Cavallo’s claims, strongly denying any suggestion that the club is prejudiced.
‘The club is extremely disappointed by the claims made and categorically rejects the allegations, including any suggestion that Adelaide United is homophobic. All on-field decisions relating to team selection are made solely on footballing grounds,’ it 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.’