Mark Robinson: AFL must take action against Barry Cable amid sexual abuse allegations

The sexual abuse allegations against Australian Football Hall of Fame Legend Barry Cable are hideous and the AFL must make a stand for women, writes Mark Robinson.

Barry Cable has been Picture: Tony Gough

Barry Cable has been publicly accused of being a paedophile by a Perth woman who was 12 at the time of the allegations.

A second woman, lawyers say, was also sexually abused by Cable and she is expected to testify at the civil trial against Cable being heard in the West Australian District Court.

That’s two allegations – repeat they are allegations – but how many allegations does the AFL need before it takes action against the Hall of Fame Legend.

A third allegation. Or fourth?

One should be enough.

Cable is not being accused of stealing women’s underwear from a clothes line, he’s been twice accused twice of the most hideous crimes, one of them at this stage being the rape of a child amid claims of five years of molestation.

The AFL must ban Barry Cable from all league based activities until the hideous allegations against him have been aired in court. Picture: Tony Gough

If the AFL has not formed an opinion on Cable, they better start preparing – and quickly.

Unquestionably, if Cable was a current player, he would be stood down by the league, if not sacked.

It’s why the AFL should today release a statement announcing Cable has been banned from attending all AFL matches, functions and engagements.

And that his legend status in the Hall of Fame has been suspended until further notice.

It’s not a matter of guilt or innocence, they are only just allegations at this stage, but because of the revolting nature of the claims, the league cannot continue to have Cable hold the esteemed position in the sport.

We now await the outcome of the hearing.

Last week, the AFL and North Melbourne ballsed-up the Tarryn Thomas stand-down decision.

Multiple women made allegations of intimidating and threatening behaviour by Thomas, yet the league and the Kangaroos for some inexplicable reason believed education was his punishment.

Last week, the AFL ballsed up the Tarryn Thomas stand-down decision. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

It took yet another claim against Thomas before the league stepped in.

The allegations against Cable – a champion footballer of the 1960 and ‘70s – are much, much worse. He’s accused of raping a child for God’s sake.

The AFL must take immediate action.

If it doesn’t, then why not?

The AFL has its policies on inclusion, diversity and respect for women and families, but if it doesn’t take a stand against Cable, then those policies are near worthless.

In the corporate world, there are espoused values and enacted values

Espoused values are the written policies. Enacted values are exactly that – action on policies.

In footy terms, the AFL must echo the famous John Kennedy Snr: Don’t think. Do.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan and AFL commission chairman Richard Goyder could argue that they’d prefer to wait until the matter is resolved in the civil system before passing judgment.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan and commission chairman Richard Goyder must act on the Barry Cable allegations. Picture: David Crosling

It is an archaic argument in this instance.

Here’s an opportunity for the AFL to take a decisive stance for women.

In fact, it’s not an opportunity, it’s the expectation.

There’s always been a rubbery line about what constitutes bad players behaviour, or in this case a former player’s alleged bad behaviour when he is on an AFL-policed pedestal, and it’s why the league must adopt a similar rule to rugby league’s No Fault Stand Down policy

Under the policy, NRL players charged with serious criminal offences are automatically prohibited from playing until their charge is determined by a court.

Cable has never been charged and says he’s not guilty.

The allegations were first investigated by Western Australian police in 1998.

But it is claims of paedophilia, and what’s worse – murder?

And there are two allegations.

As an aside, a Victoria Police report states: “The rate of false allegations of sexual offences is very low. A range of studies show approximately five per cent of rape allegations are proven false.

“This myth about false allegations is harmful for society and harmful for victims of sexual offences. It contributes to under-reporting. And victims wrongly fear they will be met with disbelief and blame if they report.’’

The time of the AFL’s policy-waving is over.

It’s time for McLachlan and Goyder to stand up, not for footy, but for the whole community

Because while Cable was a great footballer – in 1996 he was an inaugural inductee into the Australian football Hall of Fame and in 2012 was elevated to ‘Legend’ status – it remains to be seen if he’s a great bloke.

In the meantime, he needs to be suspended as a Hall of Fame legend.

Originally published as Mark Robinson: AFL must take action against Barry Cable amid sexual abuse allegations