"Where it all began"

Gay footballer proposes on the pitch

Josh Cavallo proposed to his partner Leighton Morrell in the stadium.(Bild: APA/AFP/TREVOR COLLENS, instagram.com/joshua.cavallo)

Sweet action! Australian professional footballer Josh Cavallo got engaged in the stadium of his club Adelaide United FC. The midfielder was the first professional player in Australia's top league to come out as gay in 2021. The pitch is the right place to get engaged to his partner, the kicker explained. 

"It feels right to share this moment on the pitch where it all began," Cavallo wrote on Instagram with the photo showing him kneeling on the pitch. In front of him is his partner Leighton Morrell, who looks overwhelmed at the ring in the professional footballer's hands.

The other photos show the Australian standing up and turning to his partner. The final picture shows the newly engaged couple holding hands.  

Words of thanks to the club
Cavallo deliberately chose to get engaged in front of empty stands at Adelaide United's home stadium. He thanked the club for its support: "You have given me a safe space in soccer that I never dreamed possible and encouraged me to live authentically every day of my life."

In 2021, the 24-year-old became the first professional player in Australia's top division to come out as gay. "All I want is to play soccer and be treated as an equal," he explained at the time. This earned him worldwide recognition as well as many hate comments.