Werrimull player banned after sexual harassment allegations

A country footballer has been hit with a big ban after allegations of sexual harassment at a club function.

The Werrimull playing guernsey.

A Victorian country footballer has been handed a hefty suspension after allegations of sexual harassment and misogynistic behaviour.

The Werrimull Football Netball Club men’s player has been handed a six-week ban by AFL Victoria after an investigation into his actions at a club function in June.

This masthead previously reported the person in question inappropriately touched two females without their consent while heavily intoxicated.

An AFL Victoria spokesperson confirmed the player was found to have breached two rules of the AFL National Community Football Policy Handbook.

They included “a person must not make or post inappropriate, offensive or discriminatory comments in public about another person” and “a person must not verbally or physically abuse, threaten, assault or engage in violence with another person, intimidate another person or create a hostile environment”.

“As a result, the player was issued a sanction of three matches per breach, resulting in a cumulative sanction of six matches,” the spokesperson said.

“AFL Victoria and the Millewa FNL takes matters of this nature very seriously and wants to reiterate that behaviour unbecoming of our values will not be tolerated.”

At the time of the incident, Werrimull’s women’s team forfeited its Millewa league game against Meringur on a weekend where the Magpies celebrated their centenary in protest of the player’s actions.

It came after the club elected not to suspend the player after his behaviour had been reported to members of the committee.

It’s understood a number of players quit the club as a result.

Victoria Police said the incident had not been reported to them.

Werrimull FNC has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Werrimull player banned after sexual harassment allegations