How Adelaide United's path to pride was paved by invisible women

Barely a minute had passed in Adelaide United's round-13 match against Melbourne Victory when referee Lara Lee's whistle rang out unexpectedly.

The players, confused, turned to Lee, wondering what the pause was for.

As she gestured towards the crowd behind one of the goals, her faint voice could just be heard through the pitch-side microphones: «We have to stop because of the smoke.»

The broadcast camera pivoted to the crowd and the reason for the stoppage soon became clear: A group of Adelaide fans had lit several rainbow flares as part of their Pride Round display.

The multicoloured smoke poured out of handheld poles before melting into a thick, grey haze that drifted out over the field, obscuring the women players as well as the central banner that read: «Together love always wins.»

It was a fitting metaphor for Adelaide's inaugural Pride Round, announced in the wake of Adelaide men's player Josh Cavallo's public coming-out late last year.

As the only openly gay male player in a top-flight football competition, Cavallo immediately shot to global stardom, supported by countless other footballers, clubs, and bodies at home and abroad.

His club received praise too for creating an environment in which Cavallo felt comfortable enough to speak his truth and lead by example. It helped orchestrate his heartfelt announcement video and shepherded him through the accompanying media and sponsorship circuits.

It was Cavallo's bravery that inspired the club to organise its first-ever Pride Round last weekend — to make the invisible visible, to celebrate what had been kept hidden.

But there was a deeper irony to all of this, an irony encapsulated in that rainbow haze that drifted out over the Hindmarsh pitch.

Because in leaning so heavily