Joel Wilkinson to sue AFL over alleged racial abuse, sexual harassment

A FORMER AFL player, who claims he was the victim of sexual harassment and racial discrimination during his career, will also allege he was told off for praying before games.

Former Gold Coast Suns player Joel Wilkinson plans to sue the AFL.

AN EX-GOLD Coast AFL player, who claims he was the victim of sexual harassment and racial discrimination at the Suns, will also allege he was told off for praying before games.

The Courier Mail can exclusively reveal this will be one of the allegations in former Gold Coast Suns player Joel Wilkinson’s legal claim, to be filed in the Australian Human Rights Commission by Monday.

The racial vilification and sexual harassment case to be brought by Mr Wilkinson, a Nigerian-born Christian, is against the AFL, top clubs, coaches and players, in the Human Rights Commission.

He will speak at a press conference in Melbourne today.

Former Gold Coast Suns player Joel Wilkinson plans to sue the AFL.

His lawyer Will Barsby of Shine Lawyers said for too long organisations like the AFL had been gagging people and forcing them to sign confidentiality deeds, so they could not talk.

“Mr Wilkinson has had the courage to come forward and he won’t be silenced by a gag order and he certainly won’t be silenced by an offer of hush money,’’ Mr Barsby said.

It will also be claimed Mr Wilkinson was not offered future employment with the AFL, the Gold Coast Suns or other clubs because he spoke up about racism against him.

It was also because he associated with other players who were also subjected to racial discrimination, it will be alleged.

The legal case would allege Mr Wilkinson faced racially motivated sexual harassment in the changerooms by other players on numerous occasions during his career.

Mr Barsby said there would be documented substantive evidence and visual evidence of the alleged racial discrimination.

Mr Wilkinson would make substantial complaints about sexual harassment and about other players coming to his aide after it occurred, he said.

“He was targeted because of his race and then sexually harassed in the privacy of the locker room,’’ Mr Barsby said.

Joel Wilkinson during a Suns training session in 2013.

He said from his first day with the Gold Coast Suns in 2011, Mr Wilkinson experienced significant racial discrimination on the field.

He said that racial discrimination and vilification then continued at the hands of his club, other others, senior players and officials, colleagues and team mates, despite his requests for assistance.

“He was silenced,’’ Mr Barsby said.

He said the “conduct’’ was continued by his fellow players on the field, in private and at training and club events.

“Because he spoke out and because Mr Wilkinson was labelled as a grandstander and forced into silence, his career came to an end,’’ Mr Barsby said.

He said the sexual harassment that would be alleged first commenced with the Gold Coast Suns and continued until Mr Wilkinson finished his career.

“it was a series of events that happened. Most importantly, it happened after he raised a number of racial discrimination allegations as well,’’ Mr Barsby said.

“So he was mistreated by his colleagues, he was mistreated by senior officials, he was mistreated by the clubs, because he said what’s happening to me, what’s happening to other players…’’

Mr Wilkinson claims he was subjected to direct discrimination, vilification and harassment on both racial and religious grounds by AFL staff, his club, club officials and teammates,as well as opposition players and spectators.

Mr Wilkinson’s lawyers claim his employment contract with the AFL and the Gold Coast Suns was breached.

He will be seeking compensation for pain, suffering, humiliation and loss of earning capacity.

The AFL and the Gold Coast Suns are preparing to defend the allegations.

Originally published as Joel Wilkinson to sue AFL over alleged racial abuse, sexual harassment