AFL, SANFL take stand on football gender diversity after hurtful social media comments

The AFL has taken a stand on diversity in football after a local transgender player was the victim of allegedly derogatory comments by an SA Police officer on social media.

The AFL has taken a stand on gender diversity in football after an experienced SA Police officer made allegedly transphobic comments towards a local SA player.

The senior officer posted comments on the Adelaide Footy League’s Facebook page after a women’s match in which a transgender player participated.

“A man can’t swim against a woman, how is it right for one to play a physical sport like football against women? It’s not transphobic, it’s science and it’s cheating,” they said.

“The Adelaide Football League and the SANFL need to actually be brave and make a stance. This is not okay. By making one person comfortable they are making multiple others uncomfortable.”

The alleged comments made on Adelaide Footy League's Facebook page. Picture: Adelaide Footy League Facebook

Adelaide Footy League chief John Kernahan said he was “really disappointed, even sickened” by the comments.

“The Adelaide Footy League is inclusive of any participant eligible to play,” he said.

In community football, the AFL’s policy states that transgender women can play in women’s competitions and vice versa for men and will not be excluded for reasons such as competitive advantage.

“Our approach to gender diversity is guided by the recognition that football is a game for all,” an AFL spokesperson told The Messenger.

“We are committed to supporting the inclusion of gender diverse people participating in our game in a safe and inclusive environment that is free from harassment and discrimination.”

Picture: Adelaide Footy League Facebook

The AFL has a gender diversity policy for both elite competitions and community competitions.

As of October, 2020, at the top professional level (AFL or AFLW), a transgender women’s player must:

• Have testosterone levels to have been at or below five nmol/L for two years prior
• Maintain testosterone levels below five nmol/L
• Provide information regarding height, weight, bench press, 20m sprint, vertical jump, GPS data and two-kilometre time trial

Former VFLW transgender player Hannah Mouncey was previously rejected from the AFLW draft in 2017 due to her size and strength despite meeting testosterone requirements.

The AFL told The Messenger that football was “a game for all.”

The SANFL also said social inclusion took priority in local competitions.

“In accordance with the AFL Community Football Gender Diversity Policy, it is our view that all people are provided with an opportunity to participate in community football.

“It is the SANFL and the AFL’s view that, in community football, considerations of social inclusion have greater priority than concerns which may exist with respect to competitive advantage in relation to the participation of gender diverse players.”

Adelaide Football League chief John Kernahan said the competition was disgusted by the Facebook comments. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Policy in football differs to that of swimming, with world governing body FINA this year banning transgender athletes from men’s and women’s competition.

Professor in psychology at Flinders University Damien Riggs – who specialises in gender studies and works with transgender children – said exclusion or criticism in sport could have negative mental health impacts.

“Sport can be really important for people’s health, social connections and community engagement and I think a lot of leagues have made good moves for inclusion of trans athletes.

“When you play sport you have the benefits that come with that, but for trans players and many other marginalised groups there are costs such as people taking offence or perceiving you in a certain way, which can be really troubling mentally.”

SAPOL said its Ethical and Professional Standards Branch was investigating the social media comments.