As Australian women’s football continues to recover from the horrible stories we have heard over the past few weeks about harassment and bullying, it is worthwhile remembering that by in large, girl’s and women’s football is a safe and welcoming environment for all.
There is no doubt there are ugly issues that lurk underneath that must be addressed for the greater good. Everyone needs to be heard and facts – along with evidence – must be unearthed in order to obtain justice for victims of any abhorrent behaviours, as well as to provide a framework to protect all participants in the future.
However we should never let anything take away from what football truly gives us.
Sport and especially football has the power to provide hope to people in their darkest hours, it provides warmth to the coldest of winters and importantly, it gives everyone the chance to be part of a team. The one team being the football family.
Weekend winter mornings around the nation are precious. The sea of smiling young faces. The smell of sizzling sausages. The sound of laughter and cheering as our most cherished run around a football field.
Those treasured moments make for some of our best memories.
Don’t forget the excitement of a W-League game. Donning our favourite colours. Pulling into an intimate suburban ground. Grabbing a fabulous seat as our team struts their stuff. Grabbing an autograph or photo post game.
Those magical – and innocent – moments will still be there.
The 2023 Women’s World Cup is going to be spectacular. It will bring the nation together. It will give women the grandest of stages to showcase their talent and their power to unite fans from all walks of life.
(Photo by Zak Kaczmarek/Getty Images)
So many in women’s football talk about how the game has helped their every day lives. Allowing them to express themselves, feel part of something bigger.
This is for players, parents, coaches, referees, media, volunteers… in fact pretty much everyone.
There are over 120,000 registered female footballers who participate every weekend. There are nearly 8000 female coaches, 1300 female referees and 11,000 female volunteers.
That is a lot of people who willingly participate in the beautiful game.
The number of training sessions and games amounts to thousands each year. The number of complaints of harassment or bullying are relatively small compared to the millions of interactions girls and women have in football each year.
That isn’t to say we should ignore the problems, absolutely not. What it means, is by and large girls and women are safe in football. We shouldn’t forget that.
The events of the last few weeks have cast a dark cloud over all that is beautiful about football.
Many community clubs around the country are worried about how the current issues will impact participation rates in 2022. They are worried about how sponsors will feel about getting involved. Football is already a costly exercise.
We need to keep telling the positive stories that are out there. And there are plenty.
We need to hear about Ashlie Crofts who grew up playing for Blacktown Spartans, who went to Canberra United but is now playing for local team the Western Sydney Wanderers – her favourite club growing up – for the upcoming season.
We need to hear about Caitlin Pickett, the Geelong girl who started out at local community club Surfside Waves, before going through the NPLW system at Geelong Galaxy then winning a scholarship in America. She is now part of Western United’s inaugural women’s team.
We need to hear about Diana Piculovski, who plays for Preston Lions in the VPLW. She has been at the club her whole life and is now striving to take them to the top tier of Victorian football.
We need to hear about Courtney Nevin. Who started her football journey at Oakville Ravens in western Sydney. She eventually played for the Wanderers and is now part of the Matildas squad.
We need to hear about all those young ladies who get to empower themselves through football.
Football at the moment is broke , but the people in it have the power to fix it. It is worth it.
Remember that women’s football is worth it.
Janakan Seemampillai
Roar Guru
I agree it’s totally unfair the current team is expected to make public statements. Agree also that it’s unfair to suggest any current squad members are guilty when de Vanna’s complaints are in the past. She has dropped hints that something happened recently which triggered her to speak up but unless we know what that is and there is evidence of it, we can’t DO much.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
I'm not sure why most articles on this subject focus on the current Matildas when the complaint is historical, pre-dating the current team. I read this morning that Lisa De Vanna wrote in an article on the weekend that she was offended by the Matildas statement because she was a Matilda too. It's like a darned if you do, darned if you don't for the current team. Why would they include past players in a statement made by the current team? I don't see any reason why the current team should be so heavily scrutinised, as they seem to be in various articles. Different matter for players who were leaders in the team in early 2000's when Lisa De V made her debut. My only thought about the whole issue is that I was a bit concerned when one of the new coach's first actions was to name a new captain. I'm not sure that he would have known enough about the team when he did that, but it is his choice.
Murray Fosts
Guest
Quality :laughing:
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The allegations in the USA were by players against a recent coach. De Vanna allegations the only specifics that it was back in 2001. Your the one accusing the current players falsely of being involved in a cover up when they weren't around then. There are huge differences between the USA allegations in specific details have been given, no one is going around saying every male coach was involved in the USA incident, you however have amazingly implicated evert single Matilda player automatically.
The Ball Bobbled
Roar Rookie
I imagine it was De Vanna's timing that got up the teams nose. De V started going off firstly about not being selected for Tokyo - then seemed to go on about not being included as a non player travelling accompaniment. Only after that she starts relating to an incident that she said occurred 20 years ago. but did not relate further. Lisa was a great player and I loved watching her slashing runs down the wing and attack the goal. I think the wording of the team statement was unfortunate.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
So you only pay for your children if they bring in the $$$$. Very Dickensian of you!
NoMates
Roar Rookie
I class it as baggage, For the FFA Its like paying child support for something that brings nothing to the table except cost.
stu
Guest
Tiger town....you are weeding out the background issue ‘nothing to see here’ subject to who or what gender speaks. Steady as she goes....
Tigertown
Guest
There is one major difference between the recent American NWSL investigation & the ongoing Matilda’s debate. In the USA, female teammates made allegations primarily against men in coaching positions. In Australia, it was mostly women accusing other female players of misconduct. However, as can be seen in the Matilda’s press release, these female players protected each other & denied all wrongdoing, calling it a “safe space”. While in America, the male coaches got the sack & were terminated. Gone. Via Twitter, Sam Kerr supported the NWSL victims, but not the Matilda victims.
Tigertown
Guest
The new season will be awesome, I agree. I’m looking forward to the future expansion of A-League Women’s teams.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
very true...
Janakan Seemampillai
Roar Guru
Not at all dismissive. I just don’t like the idea of women’s football tarnished as a whole. The way it’s been described is like this behaviour is rampant in women’s football. It makes it look bad as a whole. While it’s shocking and terrible it does happen, my point is overall it’s safe. And that view stems from talking to a lot of women involved in women’s football be they at social or elite level.
David Shilovsky
Expert
Murray, The Roar has covered this issue already and Mary typically covers rugby league, not football. It is true that she covers a lot of women's sport as well, but that doesn't mean she has the time or resources to cover every single issue in women's sport. This seems like a bit of a hit job on someone who produces quality content for this site.
stu
Guest
Midfielder....what adds to the complication is that an up and coming anyone, in any job or quest feels obliged to conform or stay silent to ensure their chance of success is not lost. Men and women in leadership roles can do equal damage to those below them.
David Shilovsky
Expert
While it's important that too much attention isn't taken away from the upcoming A-League season, I've got to say this piece sounds dismissive of the issue. Of course there are lots of positives in women's football, but you can't ignore the seriousness of the allegations and awful Matildas PR with "Just let the investigation show what it shows".
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Hopefully some good will come out of all this mess.... Not related to this issue and at the time all innocent.... well I think all innocent... I was working for a very large steel fabrication and erection company.... the company had multi large projects across Australia at the time.... WE had had a very successful year, it was Christmas, we always shut down for 3 weeks over the holidays... and always had a big end of year party... WE went to the city for a meal and after the meal those kinda running the show suggested very strongly we all go up to the Cross to a strip club... even as one of the youngest I through this is not fair to the girls and even for some of the boys.... huge pressure was placed on everyone to attend ... most did but I think most also fell uncomfortable ... The time was 1973, or could have been 74... and things have changed a lot but the underlying theme for many years is people in power always try and force their will on others... and in sport you don't get to many chances...
Janakan Seemampillai
Roar Guru
I see his point. It’s a tough one.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Good grief, that is quite a rant.
Janakan Seemampillai
Roar Guru
I assume you mean Mary Konstantopoulos. This is a difficult issue as there is no clear idea exactly what happened and the context. Anyway, I want to focus on the positives in women’s football in this.
Murray Fosts
Guest
It's the epitome of hypocrisy that the roars beacon of ethics and morality ( Mary alphabet ) hasn't addressed the issue that you're discussing. It's women's sport for goodness sake, surely she should be the first to protest these alleged injustices and abuses ? But rather than soapboxing in her usual manner when men misbehave, she's penned an insipid promo article about some b grade tripe on the idioot box. Shame on you Mary , what happened to your high unrelenting standards ? Oh I see the mathematics here, they've been doubled