Soccer player Jay Hart’s alleged victims rally for change in immigration law

Two women who have taken intervention orders against a UK-born footballer are calling for him to be kicked out of Australia to protect other potential victims.

Alleged victims have spoken out about footballer Jay Hart’s behaviour.

A British footballer plying his trade in Melbourne is the subject of a petition seeking to kick him out of the country for alleged incidences of alleged intimate partner abuse.

Two Melbourne women are speaking out about the abuse they claim to have suffered at the hands of Jay Hart, saying they want to protect other women and change immigration laws.

Sarah Fardy and Cara Greedy have taken out intervention orders against the­ ­former Blackburn Rovers Academy striker.

Sarah Fardy took out an intervention order against Jay Hart.

The women started an ­online petition they intend to send to Immigration Minister Tony Burke urging him to perform a character review and revoke the visa of a man who had ambitions of becoming a top-flight professional player.

Mr Hart, who has been in the country since 2020 on a student visa, most recently played for Sydenham Park but was let go by the club after Ms Fardy alerted it to his alleged behaviour.

Speaking to the Herald Sun, Ms Fardy said she met Mr Hart on a dating app, and things escalated but ended quickly after just two months.

She claimed he became obsessive and possessive, moving into her house before insisting on driving and dropping her at work every day, even escorting her on interstate work trips.

Mr Hart’s behaviour was described as obsessive and possessive.

When he threatened self harm, Ms Fardy reported him to police, to be advised she was at risk.

“I told them my partner is suicidal, he’s pulled a knife and he’s threatening to take sleeping tablets every time I ask him to leave the house and give me some space,” she said.

It was only after handing over his details to police for a background check that she learned the horrifying truth.

“... (The officer) comes back and goes, ‘you’re in danger, do not go home, you have to stay at a friend’s house,” she said, learning of his history of abuse including ­assault convictions.

“Police had to come around to my house for a tech sweep. They checked my phone. He tried to mirror my phone three times to mirror his phone, and they found a tracking device in his name hidden in my car.”

Ms Fardy and Ms Greedy - who each have protection orders in place - contacted other alleged victims, whose stories seemed strikingly similar.

“These two cases alone speak volumes of the threat this man poses to the Australian community and the next woman he manipulates with his web of lies and deception.

“While our stories are personal, they echo the experiences of many others.”

Mr Hart’s alleged behaviour led to the termination of his registration by Football Victoria, but his alleged victims want serious change, according to Ms Fardy.

“This petition calls for the immediate revision of immigration laws with strong consideration for the history of violence in visa holders,” they wrote.

“Given the current legal framework, perpetrators of domestic violence are able to remain in the country despite multiple family violence protection orders being applied by the courts.”

Originally published as Soccer player Jay Hart’s alleged victims rally for change in immigration law