Opinion: Gutless Basketball Australia’s ignorance exposed after Mitch Creek decision
Basketball Australia and the NBL have proved themselves to be gutless and rudderless when it comes to allegations of violence against women. It’s time for change.
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Basketball Australia and the NBL have proved themselves to be gutless and rudderless when it comes to allegations of violence against women.
NBL star Mitch Creek, who has been charged with assaulting a woman, has been given the green light to play again for the South East Melbourne franchise.
Creek could be on the court as soon as Thursday night. Basketball Australia and the NBL don’t have a policy when it comes to serious matters like these.
While the Australian Olympic Committee’s code will see Creek automatically ruled out of the Tokyo Games if he makes the Boomers – he is free to play in Australia’s domestic competition. Which is wrong.
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Any sporting leader with any ounce of moral fibre these days, in this climate, would understand that allowing an athlete – who is charged with a violent assault of a woman – to play is a shocking look.
Recently Basketball Australia was recently labelled a ‘white boys’ club” by the Human Rights Commission. And the boys’ club are this time brazenly ignoring this female victim and police charges.
And in this case Victorian Police did a four-month investigation into the South East Melbourne star, which finally led to him being charged. Again, four months. The 28-year-old has been charged on summons with intentionally causing injury, recklessly causing injury and unlawful assault over an incident in Melbourne’s western suburbs on November 22 last year.
Creek had been stood down, until early this week, when madness unfolded at the top of sport which saw the basketballer reinstated.
Sporting bodies love to riff about how much they respect women, they laud their female athletes, go on about how much they oppose violence against women – but then go quiet and hide behind awkward statements about due process when their players are alleged to have been violent towards a woman.
They put out these statements often referencing, innocent and guilt, that things are being taken “extremely seriously” – but really at the end of the day they are press releases that try to shield their gutless leadership.
The only way a sporting code can show a true sign of respect towards women in these situations, to really lead in this space, is to stand down a player up on a serious charge.
The NRL are the only major sporting code who do this. They are the only football code in this country that get this issue and show victims (who are mostly women) this level of respect.
The NRL are the only code in the land with any kind of sensible policy in this space. Then again the code is being run by two very progressive administrators – in chair Peter V’landys and CEO Andrew Abdo – backed by a Commission who show a serious understanding of issues involving violence and women. They are not all talk, they take action.
In fact they’re ahead of the curve on this very issue ever since they implemented the policy in February 2019.
The no-fault stand down policy (please note the ‘no-fault’ bit) doesn’t allow players charged with serious crimes involving women or children to take the field. That’s it. That’s respect.
Instead we may have Creek taking to the pine on Thursday night like nothing has happened; his first court hearing is due to take place on April 21.
Instead we also have Collingwood’s Jordan De Goey, playing every week in the AFL, despite the allegation he and another man indecently assaulted a woman. Both men are yet to formally enter a plea but will contest their charges at a three-day hearing to start on August 9. Both are on bail.
On the day Creek was announced he would return, Basketball Australia CEO Jerril Rechter – who has been in the role just over a year – resigned. The timing is odd because it comes just four months out from the Tokyo Games where both the Boomers and the Opals are strong medal chances.
There has been a report published that Rechter was upset with not being able to effect cultural change.
It also follows the release of a review of the sport by the Australian Human Rights Commission, which detailed claims of a “white boys’ club” mentality and casual racism limiting opportunities for players and staff within the organisation. Time will tell what she really thought of the Creek decision.
NBL BACKFLIP SPARKS FURY AMID ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS
The NBL, the Australian Basketball Players’ Association and South East Melbourne have agreed to allow Mitch Creek to resume training and playing while he deals with assault allegations.
Creek will be available to play in Thursday night’s game against the Illawarra Hawks.
The move comes after the NBL initially stood him down from all duties when he was charged with allegedly assaulting a woman in Melbourne last November.
Creek was initially stood down as mutually agreed by all parties, including Creek, when charged on March 15.
The Boomers representative hasn’t trained or played with the Phoenix since he was charged by Victoria Police on March 15.
The decision to allow Creek to play has sparked outrage among fans.
Mitch Creek - up on DV charges - allowed to play in the NBL.
— Jessica Halloran (@JessiHalloran) March 30, 2021
Jordan De Goey - charged with sexual assault - allowed to play in the AFL.
The men running these sporting codes need to read the room.
Being a sporting God shouldn’t excuse you. Adopt an NRL-like stand-down policy
The #NBL are letting South East Melbourne’s Mitch Creek back to play after initially saying he’d be off until the outcome of his domestic violence case was known. Ordinary. https://t.co/CyCSRjWNAp
— A Sporting Discussion (@ASD_radio) March 30, 2021
Absolutely shithouse sports administrating by the #NBLhttps://t.co/4JWNV85XII
— AJ Mithen (@AJMithen) March 30, 2021
This is perplexing to say the least, why sit him the first place then? #NBLhttps://t.co/Qfcnx8V5RP
— NBLReport (@NblReport) March 30, 2021
This is the correct decision
— Ken (@kenjordan27) March 30, 2021
Untill Mitch is proven by the courts guilty or innocent.
A persons life and lively hood should not be on the line by accusations.
If these charges are found guilty in a court of law.
Then he should be punished.
But only once proven.
There’s a big room of people who believe in the presumption of innocence. This same people believe that a man should not have his livelihood and reputation ruined over unproven allegations.
— J-JHewlett (@JhewlettJ) March 30, 2021
On Tuesday, his lawyers were informed that his preliminary hearing, scheduled for this Thursday, has been adjourned and rescheduled to be heard later next month after he notified the court he would be contesting all charges.
The decision to allow Creek to play is not an indication of his guilt or innocence in relation to the criminal investigation being undertaken by Victoria Police, which the NBL and South East Melbourne are treating extremely seriously.
He will relinquish his co-captaincy of the team and will not participate in any community activities with the Phoenix until the matter has been determined by the courts.
The NBL and South East Melbourne will continue to review the matter and will take into consideration any decisions or directions made by the courts.
With the legal process underway and confirmation by Basketball Australia’s Integrity Unit that a hearing panel into its investigation will not be convened prior to the matter being heard by the courts.
The news of Creek’s inclusion comes on the same day that Basketball Australia chief executive Jerril Rechter announced her resignation.
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Originally published as Opinion: Gutless Basketball Australia’s ignorance exposed after Mitch Creek decision
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