Bayswater Football Club: Strip show leads to players forfeiting two weeks of payment
BAYSWATER Football Club’s senior players have copped a fine equivalent to two weeks’ match payments for their part in organising a strip show watched by juniors.
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BAYSWATER Football Club’s senior players have copped a fine equivalent to two weeks’ match payments for their part in organising a strip show watched by juniors.
The money will go to a gender equality charity.
Knox Council issued the club an ultimatum of paying $14,000 to charity or losing two home matches — which would hit the club financially through losses in gate takings and refreshments.
The penalty came after it emerged the club hired a stripper to perform at a function in front of underage players.
KNOX COUNCIL HANDS DOWN PENALTIES FOR STRIP SHOW
BAYSWATER FOOTBALL CLUB APOLOGISES AFTER JUNIOR PLAYERS ATTENDED FUNCTION WITH STRIPPERS
Angry parents said their kids were told to say the event was “a dress-up night’’, but several 16-year-old players instead attended an evening with strippers organised by adults.
Bayswater president Gary Galvin said the club had met to discuss Knox Council’s two options and it was the players who ultimately decided to forgo match payments.
“It was their choice,” he said.
“That’s what this great group are like. Please respect them for this.”
Mr Galvin described the council’s penalty as “tough but fair”.
The council warned if they didn’t comply with the sanctions they would be stripped of their lease of Bayswater Oval for the 2019 season.
On top of the fine, the club will have to do a gender equity audit and run a class to teach children about “harmful definitions of masculinity”.
Mr Galvin said: “Young people make mistakes; as a club we have learned from this and will do better in the future.”
Knox Mayor John Mortimore said the club acknowledged they “went a couple of steps too far”.
“There was a blunder made by a few people at the club,” he said.
“The club has recognised it was something that had to be dealt with in a very serious manner. I’m pleased with the way they have ended up dealing with it and I think we’ve got the right outcome.”
A council report said the club had a celebration at their clubrooms on May 19 that involved a “significant consumption of alcohol”.
The report said senior players chipped in money to hire a “female entertainer”, who performed in front of about 40 players, including some as young as 17.
The event did not involve members of the Bayswater Junior Football Club or Bayswater Women’s Football Club, the report said.
FULL STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT GARY GALVIN:
“Our club has a proud 120 year history in Bayswater and it is heartbreaking that one incident has tarnished the reputation of our great club.
“Our club has had a strong commitment to developing the character of our players and teaching them life skills. This incident is disappointing.
“The players have learned a tough lesson and as a club we are committed to learning from this and implementing training to ensure we develop player and club culture that is based on family values.
“Aussie rules footy and local footy clubs are an institution of Australian cultural life and we have a responsibility to teach our young men and women character and good values.
“Young people make mistakes; as a club we have learned from this and will do better in the future.
“I acknowledge Knox Council has been tough but fair.
“No further comment will be made by the club. We are moving on.”
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