‘Disappointed, Feel Excluded’: Gay Top-Flight Male Footballer Josh Cavallo On Fifa's ‘OneLove’ Armband Ban

Josh Cavallo, the only openly gay top-notch soccer player in the sport, came out strongly against FIFA’s decision to ban players from wearing “OneLove” armbands

Josh Cavallo, the only openly gay top-notch soccer player in the sport, came out strongly against FIFA’s decision to ban players from wearing “OneLove” armbands at the Qatar 2022 contending it made him feel “excluded.”

Captains of several European teams steered clear from “OneLove” armbands at the World Cup over the fear of receiving yellow cards. The armband features a striped heart in different colors representing all heritages, backgrounds, genders, and sexual identities

Earlier, countries including England, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, and Wales were keen on participating in the “OneLove” campaign to promote inclusion and oppose discrimination.

However, the associations said in a statement on Monday that it would not be worn in Qatar.

In an interview with CNN on Tuesday, the Australian footballer said, “I’m disappointed in FIFA. They have made me feel excluded.” “You know, representation is so important and there’s so many people watching these games, you know, that it just shows that FIFA’s intentions are not to make … football a place for everyone, you know,” he added.

Voicing concern over the decision, the player said, “We have families watching, we have the next generation watching. FIFA needs to do better. It’s the world game.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Cavallo in a social media post called the measure “draconian.” The Adelaide United midfielder and former Australian youth international last year opened up about being gay.

He went on to become one of the most prominent faces in the sport and was recently named “Man of the Year” at an awards ceremony hosted by Attitude Magazine, Europe’s largest LGBTQ magazine publication.

Cavallo, who had shown optimism about playing for Australia at the World Cup, didn’t make the Socceroos’ final squad for Qatar 2022.

However, the 23-year-old player expected the Australian captain to promote the “OneLove” armband in solidarity with the LGBTQ community amid the risk of sanctions for any player who wore the armband.

“If I had been there and I had been the captain, yes, I would have worn the armband. I’m not ashamed to be who I am,” Cavallo said. “And it’s exactly the reason why I’ve come out and to be the person I am today,” added Cavallo. “I do expect my captain to wear it.”

The Australian counterparts including captain Matthew Ryan appeared in a video before the tournament raising human rights issues including the treatment of LGBTQ+ people in Qatar without the rainbow armband.