Matildas legend Lisa De Vanna’s courage shows one voice can make a difference

Lisa De Vanna should be lauded for her courage, for the legend has paid a very deep personal price in being the lead voice in this investigation into the Matildas’s culture.

Lisa De Vanna. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Lisa De Vanna never wanted to go public about the abuse she says she experienced during her long and decorated career but when she did she also never expected to be ostracised by the very community she was trying to protect.

She was determined to speak up because she didn’t want other players – at any level of the game – to experience the same abuse and harassment – she never wanted the issue to become about herself and in fact the trigger for De Vanna was an incident that didn’t involve her at all.

So about 18 months ago, De Vanna brought up her concerns about the toxic culture within the sport privately with the game’s top officials, hoping they would act on her complaints ... but they didn’t. So she waited and waited and then in desperation, brought her concerns to the media.

Today, Sports Integrity Australia has vindicated De Vanna’s actions by referring three matters to the police and confirming they were proceeding with investigations into two complaints and making a series of recommendations on many of the other allegations.

Lisa De Vanna has been vindicated. Picture: Getty Images

It’s a major step forward in the right direction and De Vanna should be lauded for her courage, for the Matildas legend has paid a very deep personal price in being the lead voice in this investigation chiefly after some former and current Matildas teammates turned their backs on her.

Not only did they turn her back on her, they deliberately turned the conversation into one of sexuality and gender instead of abuse and player welfare.

She lost friendships but also found some new ones in trying to fix a broken system.

Since News Corp broke this yarn in October, I have received hundreds of phone calls and emails alleging horrors of abuse, sexual assault and bullying – from men and women – from grassroots through to the elite level of football. De Vanna herself has been inundated with horrendous tales ... because that is the cost of courage for whistleblowers.

Football Australia should be applauded for recommending the SIA conduct an investigation but it also should never have got to this stage where ego and agendas were put ahead of the welfare of players and a sport that we all love.

De Vanna (right) has inundated with horrendous stories. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Twenty years after her own horrific experience, the Matildas’ lightning rod moment into culture has prompted other sports to move towards signing up and reporting into Sport Integrity Australia’s National Integrity Framework.

This effectively should end sports investigating themselves but this matter is not going away for the FA until it cleans up its reporting processes.

De Vanna welcomed three of the matters being referred to police but expressed concerns that the SIA had ruled out all allegations in community football.

“I can’t say too much as investigations are still going ... but for the SIA to only investigate incidents at the national level was concerning. I think many people may walk away from this investigation discouraged by the whole process.

“I can’t say too much more at the moment.”

Whatever happens, De Vanna – should be praised and not persecuted for trying to protect a game she loves and a jersey that, in her words, belongs to everyone.