One of the country’s first female football leagues is investigating the treatment of female players across the competition and making several changes after the exodus of an entire women’s team following claims of racism and sexism.
Key points:
- The entire South Bunbury women’s team quit after raising concerns about sexism and racism in the club
- A WA Football Commission has found no evidence of a sexist or racist culture but says changes are needed
- That includes an audit of ‘inequality’ across all South West clubs, a governance overhaul, and better education
The South Bunbury Football Club and South West Football League were investigated by the WA Football Commission, following an on-field racial vilification incident in May, which sparked the downfall of the club’s women’s team.
Several women also came forward with stories of alleged sexist behaviour from men within the club.
The WA Football Commission’s investigation, obtained by the ABC, has ordered an audit of all South West clubs to identify areas of inequality against the female league.
It also recommended a review and overhaul of the way the league governed individual clubs in order to give the league more power to summon or sanction individual clubs.
The report was finalised three months ago but has not been released to the public or parties involved in the investigation.
Strip club comments caused ‘distress’
The integrity investigation highlighted an incident at the club’s pre-season launch, where the MC of the event was forced to apologise after referring to being at a strip club during the women’s season launch.
It’s alleged the South Bunbury club member said he “needed bigger pants” to contain his excitement at being in a room full of “pretty girls”.
The investigation rejected suggestions the MC was creating “a jovial/fun-type of atmosphere” and said the offensive comments caused “distress” and “embarrassment”.
“The type of remarks made had sexual undertones and were unacceptable,” the report author said.
With no sexism-based complaints raised prior to the event, the report concluded there was, “no evidence the South Bunbury Football Club has a sexist culture”.
The Commission recommended the South West Football League appoint a female executive, and all clubs appoint a female board member by next year.
The league has already received a nomination for a female on their board to be announced once it is finalised.
League making progress
There were 10 recommendations in the report and league president Barry Tate said it had made progress on a number of them already.
The league is currently conducting the audit on inequality at each club through a survey of more than 300 registered female players.
Mr Tate said he expected “some negativity” from most of the 52 responses received after the survey period closed on Friday.
“We’ve always tried to treat the women the same as the men, so if there are any issues out there with clubs we’ll be addressing it with them,” he said.
There’s also set to be an overhaul of the governance structure of the league after the report highlighted that in many situations it did not have the authority to sanction clubs unless they brought the game into disrepute.
“We run a million-dollar business and the power sits with the clubs,” Mr Tate said.
Racial vilification incident
Former South Bunbury women’s coach Maxwell Jetta recently confirmed he had taken a job as the Indigenous welfare officer for the league, after the report recommended the position be created to provide vilification support to players.
The Noongar man and cousin of former AFL players Lewis Jetta and Neville Jetta resigned after no player from South Bunbury club came forward to accept responsibility for a racist remark directed towards Carey Park forward Hayden Yarran during a match.
The club was fined $200 and later wrote a formal apology.
The WAFC integrity report supported the tribunal verdict but said the monetary fine was “insufficient”.
It concluded the club, “is not a racist club and that this incident should not reflect holistically upon the image of the club”.
Mr Jetta said he was hopeful, given his new role, he could better educate players and provide support to any players who needed it.
“I was confident when the situation happened that I could fix it and this role gives me the opportunity,” he said.
“I have been through it myself … and [intend on] being a person for clubs to reach out to if there are any situations similar to the South Bunbury incident.”
Source: AFL NEWS ABC
