Matilda’s toxic culture: Former teammate Luisa Bishop-Marzotto doubles down on Lisa De Vanna’s claims
A former teammate of Lisa De Vanna has opened up on the bullying the Matildas legend endured. And she has a message for the football community.
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A former teammate of Lisa De Vanna has doubled down on the sensational claims of the Matildas legend and urged the football community to not confuse gender politics with the real issue - protecting junior players.
Luisa Bishop-Marzotto, a teammate of De Vanna’s in the 2001 Young Matildas, said fear had driven teammates to remain silent about a toxic culture that had allowed bullying, grooming and sexual harassment.
But worryingly, Bishop-Marzotto said some of the football community were trying to turn the conversation into a political debate of sexuality when the real issue was providing a safe environment for players.
The 37-year-old welcomed Football Australia’s move to involve Sport Integrity Australia in an independent review but was concerned about the vindictive backlash from the football community.
“I witnessed what Lisa went through ... everything Lisa said was true. She was absolutely targeted when she was teenager because she was an easy target because of her reaction,” Bishop-Marzotto said.
“She was ostracised and made to feel like she was the problem ... I saw her bullied, and tormented ... why didn’t we say anything? Because when you’re a teenager, all you want to do is play for your country.
“You don’t think of the bigger picture. People might ask why did we take so long to speak up ... because we never felt safe or that we would be taken seriously, and we didn’t want to be ostracised and not selected again.
“But in saying that we didn’t have a person that we could trust and confide in that would listen and act upon the behalf of the players. In some cases, the only person you had available to speak to was a coach or manager who honestly, you didn’t really know.”
Bishop-Marzotto, who was also in the Matildas senior squad before playing at national league level for more than a decade, said there was no place for sexual harassment and bullying regardless of gender and sexuality.
“The message is being lost ... it’s uncomfortable for us in the football community to talk about,” she said.
“But it shouldn’t make a difference if it was a man or a woman - no player, no teenager should be subject to harassment and bullying.
“I was also an outsider and also made to feel uncomfortable.
“I was made to feel uncomfortable in the changeroom, I would always wear my shorts and sports bra in the shower or shower back in my room because of the bullying I received,I was that uncomfortable.
“Mentally, that’s a very difficult position to be in ... Lisa was very brave to speak up about this.”
News Corp Australia revealed earlier this week that several of De Vanna’s teammates have received phone calls asking them to discredit the 36-year-old’s disturbing revelations.
One player speaking on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution said some players were worried about their jobs, others were worried about the game’s reputation.
When News Corp contacted De Vanna about the call for silence, De Vanna said she had only received positive support from former teammates.
Football Australia said on Wednesday it welcomed the development of an independent complaint management process to enable current and former footballers and staff to bring forward concerns regarding alleged abuse, harassment or bullying in relation to Football Australia’s national teams and the A-Leagues.
Under the agreement, Sport Integrity Australia will receive, assess, and manage all complaints, ensuring all concerns are heard and assessed independent of Football Australia.
Details are expected to be available in the coming weeks.
Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) is encouraging players to lodge formal complaints after De Vanna’s bombshell allegations.
PFA has a dedicated and confidential counselling service available to players if they require support, contact pfa.net.au.
Shock ploy after Matildas code of silence broken
— Michael Cain and Selina Steele
Former New South Wales premier Morris Iemma has called for police to investigate any potential criminal allegations arising from explosive claims of a toxic culture within the Matildas and football in Australia.
His call comes as the Matildas “omerta” circled around former teammates of whistleblower Lisa De Vanna to remain silent and discredit the 150-game veteran’s stunning revelations of bullying, sexual harassment and indecent assault.
De Vanna broke the Matilda’s longstanding code of omerta - silence surrounding the toxic culture that has forced Football Australia to announce an independent investigation by the Sports Integrity Australia.
News Corp Australia can reveal several of De Vanna’s teammates have received phone calls asking them to discredit the 36-year-old’s disturbing revelations of sexual harassment and bullying by teammates.
One player speaking on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution said some players were worried about their jobs, others were worried about the game’s reputation.
When News Corp contacted De Vanna about the call for silence, De Vanna said she had only received positive support from former teammates.
Iemma, who also sits on the board of Football NSW, said: “I have read the material that is in the public domain via media reports and having read those my reaction is I find them extremely disturbing.”
“The allegations are extremely disturbing and of the most serious nature.
“What has been put into the public domain by a great of Australian women’s football, Lisa De Vanna, and others now warrants the most serious and detailed and thorough investigation.
“Firstly, it is right and proper that the governing body of the sports investigate these issues relating to integrity, behaviour, conduct and pass it on to relevant independent people to be investigated.
“The second point I would make is that based on what is reported the allegations also include very serious and possibly criminality and these are matters that warrant a proper referral to the police.
“The third point is one of the allegations made is that a player brought these serious matters to the attention of authorities and they were not taken seriously or fully investigated or ignored.
“These are very serious allegations.
“Failing to act or turning a blind eye to the potential criminal allegations that in itself warrants an investigation.
“When there are serious allegations that involve a potential breach of the law, failing to act on that or failing to refer it to the investigative body is of itself potentially a breach of the law.”
Football Australia said on Wednesday it welcomed the development of an independent complaint management process to enable current and former footballers and staff to bring forward concerns regarding alleged abuse, harassment or bullying in relation to Football Australia’s national teams and the A-League.
Under the agreement, Sport Integrity Australia will receive, assess, and manage all complaints, ensuring all concerns are heard and assessed independent of Football Australia. Details are expected to be available in the coming weeks.
The National Sports Tribunal will have jurisdiction to hear any disputes that fall within the scope of the complaints process, through mediation, conciliation, or arbitration.
Football Australia initiated discussions with SIA with a view to establishing an independent mechanism to supplement the governing body’s complaint handling process under its Member Protection Framework.
The Professional Footballers Association (PFA) is encouraging players to log formal complaints after De Vanna’s bombshell allegations.
PFA co-chief executive officer Beau Busch, who reached out to De Vanna, said: “It’s likely that maybe more people will come forward.”
PFA has a dedicated and confidential counselling service available to players if they require support, contact pfa.net.au
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