Matildas under scrutiny ahead of games against Brazil

Football Australia chief executive James Johnson promises to ‘call out’ players if they are guilty of acts of abuse, harassment, assault and grooming.

Lisa De Vanna has accused Australian female players of abuse, assault, harassment and bullying. Picture: Matthias Hangst - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

Football Australia chief executive James Johnson says a pending investigation into allegations of abuse, harassment, assault and grooming in Australian women’s football has “taken a toll” on the Matildas, but he promised to punish any players found guilty of such acts.

The Matildas returned to Australia this week for a two-game series against Brazil, but the focus has remained on the horror allegations of former star player Lisa De Vanna.

De Vanna’s revelations to News Corp Australia of alleged acts of abuse, harassment, assault and grooming by senior players over the past two decades have rocked the women’s game and seemingly damaged the reputation of what has been one of the nation’s loved sporting teams.

It led to FA announcing an independent Sport Integrity Australia investigation, which is set to start this week.

Football Australia chief executive James Johnson has promised to ‘call out’ players if they are guilty of alleged abusive behaviour. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

“There will be an announcement in the next couple of days, where the conduct that former players have talked about will be addressed through an independent channel, not by Football Australia, by Sports Integrity Australia,” Johnson told the ABC.

“The specific allegations that were made — that behaviour, those allegations, if they’re proven, are not OK and we will through this process call out this kind of behaviour – that is the objective.”

Johnson reportedly met with the Matildas squad on Wednesday.

“Of course, it (the investigation) has taken a toll, but you’re talking about a great group of professionals playing in some of the biggest clubs in the world, and the scrutiny on these players right now is very high and they’re handling it very well,” he said.

The Matildas meet Brazil on Saturday and Tuesday, with both matches at Sydney’s CommBank Stadium.