Matildas star becomes latest to call out our toxic sporting culture
Football Australia (FA) is calling on former players to make formal complaints after former Matildas striker Lisa De Vanna rocked the sport with claims of sexual abuse.
De Vanna and former teammate Rhali Dobson are the latest top Australian sportswomen to go public with allegations of a toxic culture while they were competing.
A Swimming Australia investigation is ongoing into allegations of an abusive culture in the sport while womenās hockey and gymnastics in Australia have also probed similar claims.
De Vanna has alleged she suffered same-sex sexual harassment, abuse and bullying during her decorated 150-game international career with the Matildas.
Australiaās second-highest goalscorer in senior internationals, De Vanna says the incidents date back to 2001 when she joined the Young Matildas squad as a 17-year-old.
āI was pulled down from behind and dry-humped by a few of my teammates,ā she told News Corp.
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āI fought my way off the floor kicking and screaming.
āThey thought it was funny. I was just a young kid from Perth, I didnāt know any different. I lost my shit and wanted to punch them.
āHave I been sexually harassed? Yes. Have I been bullied? Yes. Ostracised? Yes. Have I seen things that have made me uncomfortable? Yes.
āIn any sporting organisation and in any environment, grooming, preying and unprofessional behaviour makes me sick.
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āAs a youngster and a player I didnāt know how to address this ā¦ but it is still happening across all levels and itās time to speak up.ā
FA, in a statement on Wednesday, said it had met with De Vanna āand heard her grievancesā.
āThe specific allegations made public were not raised with us in that meeting,ā FA said.
āIn the event that Lisa chooses to lodge a formal complaint through the appropriate channels, we will be in a position to investigate and, if appropriate, act accordingly.
āWe encourage anyone to bring forward their concerns through Football Australiaās formal complaints process ā¦ any such matter will be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.
āThe same process is open to Rhali Dobson and other former players and staff to formally bring forward any claims.ā
W-League stalwart Dobson has also alleged she was a target of sexual harassment in her career.
Australiaās soccer playersā union, Professional Footballers Australia (PFA), said it was ādeeply concernedā at the claims.
āWe recognise that the decision to speak publicly would not have been made lightly,ā the PFAās co-chief executives Beau Busch and Kathryn Gill said in a statement.
āIt is critical that the sport provides a safe and inclusive workplace and, importantly, the players are supported to come forward.ā
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