AFL Victoria's Independent Tribunal has tonight found five Deer Park FC players guilty of breaching the VWFL's Social Media Policy and issued them with a servere reprimand.
The tribunal ruled that comments posted on Facebook last week were unacceptable under the competition’s Social Media Policy, likely to offend and impact negatively on those referred to in the posts.
The Tribunal, however, chose not to suspend the girls and instead offered a warning to all VWFL players and coaches that any behavior of this nature in the future will incur far greater sanctions.
The VWFL would like to stress that the breach of the social media policy relates to comments that were posted and then removed from Facebook, and extend far beyond those published on news websites last week.
AFL Victoria Female Football Manager Darren Flanigan said the VWFL would not tolerate offensive online behaviour.
“The VWFL has chosen not to release the comments in question but claims that they refer to just the physicality of game are absurd.”
“The comments that we received a complaint about went far beyond what we would deem acceptable."
Flanigan said the Social Media Policy was brought in (to supplement the misconduct policy) at the beginning of the 2014 season following a series of online incidents that related to body shaming, harassment and generally unkind behaviour in connection to participation in the VWFL.
“In 2014, seven participants were found guilty of breaching the policy and accepted their suspensions,” he said.
“Clubs have continually been reminded about educating their players on how to appropriately conduct themselves on social media and AFL Victoria will continue to work with VWFL clubs in relation to this.”
“It is our responsibility to provide a safe and inclusive environment for women to be active and participate in our sport.”
“We not only take a strong stance on this behaviour due to the social and emotional wellbeing of our players, but because of the unnecessary tension it causes between teams which can escalate on to the field.”
Flanigan said he urged all participants in the VWFL to THINK before they post to avoid these situations:
T Is it True
H Is it Helpful
I Does it Inspire women to play
N Is it Necessary
K Is it Kind
Last Modified on 19/05/2015 21:41