Adelaide United midfielder Josh Cavallo sent out harsh criticisms towards Spain legends Iker Casillas and Carlos Puyol over the former’s actions on Twitter, where Casillas tweeted out “I’m gay” before subsequently deleting it, with the former Real Madrid goalkeeper claiming that his account was “hacked.”
Cavallo, who made headlines last year for being the very first openly gay professional footballer in the world, slammed Casillas for being “beyond disrespectful” and joking about coming out following the Spain and Real Madrid legend tweeting out “I hope that you respect me: I’m gay” last Sunday.
The tweet in question has since been deleted, but not before Barcelona legend Puyol swooped in and replying the tweet with, “The time has come to tell our story, Iker.”
Casillas has since apologized to both his followers and the LGBTQ community, stating that his account was hacked at that time. But by then it had attracted a significant amount of attention.
Cavallo had took to Twitter to voice out his disapproval towards Casillas and Puyol’s actions on Twitter over last weekend.
“@IkerCasillas and @Carles5puyol joking and making fun out of coming out in football is disappointing,” tweeted Cavallo, who had amassed 38 A-League Men appearances for Adelaide since signing for them last year, “It’s a difficult journey that any LGBTQ+ ppl have to go through. To see my role models and legends of the game make fun out of coming out and my community is beyond disrespectful.”
Cavallo’s tweet has since also been deleted.
While Casillas had gone on public to say that his “I’m gay” tweet was a result of his account being compromised, Spanish media have speculated that the tweet itself was a deterrent response towards tabloids and gossip accounts who had been poking into Casillas’ personal life since his divorce from ex-wife Sara Carbonero last year. These tabloids and gossip accounts has been spreading rumors of Casillas having an affair with a number of people, such as Spanish actress Alejandra Onieva and Gerard Pique’s ex-partner Shakira.
“Hacked account. Luckily everything in order. Apologies to all my followers. And of course, more apologies to the LGBT community,” Casillas tweeted out in Spanish in response to his initial tweet.
Puyol had also gone to Twitter to apologize for his “clumsy joke.”
“I have made a mistake. Sorry for a clumsy joke with no bad intentions and totally out of place,” tweeted Puyol, “I understand that it may have hurt sensitivities. All my respect and support for the LGTBIQA + community.”