https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/football/matildas-star-lisa-de-vanna-details-horrific-abuse-and-bullying-in-footballs-toxic-culture/news-story/b2e11f790faa63f24a47d1ad90b1709cMatildas legend Lisa De Vanna and a string of former Australian women’s soccer players have revealed a toxic culture within the sport that includes allegations of indecent assault, sexual harassment, bullying and grooming.
So bad was De Vanna’s experience as a teenager within the code that she alleges a teammate pulled her down from behind and was dry-humped, prompting the star striker to threaten to fight them.
The 36-year-old is speaking up now after being triggered by a recent incident involving a current professional player within the Football Australia system - a player she said had suffered personally and professionally.
“There needs to be consequences,” De Vanna said. “There needs to be accountability. I have seen cultural problems at all levels throughout the years - from men and women - and girls coming through need to be brave, and also the girls that have been through this also need to be brave and know they are not alone.
“It’s a sensitive topic and it takes a brave and courageous person to speak up.
“Have I been sexually harassed? Yes. Have I been bullied? Yes. Ostracised? Yes. Have I seen things that have made me uncomfortable? Yes.
“In any sporting organisation and in any environment, grooming, preying and unprofessional behaviour makes me sick.
“As a youngster and a player I didn’t know how to address this ... but it is still happening across all levels and it’s time to speak up.”
Lisa De Vanna has bravely shared her story hoping for consequences
De Vanna also highlighted another inappropriate moment away from the sporting field.
“There was a time when I was asked to join two girls in the shower rubbing soap on each other,” De Vanna said.
“I told them to f*** off and they laughed and said “you know you want to join us”.
“There has to be accountability ... and I think Football Australia are ready to look into this now.”
The recently retired, 150-cap veteran, took to social media at the weekend to respond to a tweet from US soccer superstar Megan Rapinoe who was commenting on allegations of sexual harassment in the NWSL.
Rapinoe had tweeted “Men protecting men, who are abusing Women.”
De Vanna tweeted back: “I agree @mPinoe but I have witnessed W my eyes.
- Women protecting women who abuse women.
- Players protecting senior players who abuse younger players.
- Organisations protecting “coaches/players” who abuse players.
Abuse is abuse. Poor behaviour is poor across all boards!”
20 YEAR COVER UP
De Vanna said there were many times she felt uncomfortable throughout her career.
One of those uncomfortable times was as a Young Matilda in 2001.
“I was pulled down from behind and dry-humped by a few of my teammates. I fought my way off the floor kicking and screaming. They thought it was funny,” she said.
“I was just a young kid from Perth, I didn’t know any different. I lost my shit and wanted to punch them.
“But then they thought I was the problem and I was isolated from the rest of the team and put in a different room.
“I was 17-years-old ... I didn’t know what was happening.”
Former Matilda Elissia Carnavas, formerly Canham, was also selected for the camp and witnessed what De Vanna endured.
Carnavas has decided to speak to News Corp out of concerns for her eight-year-old daughter who continues to play the sport she loves.
“Having been a mother, and now a coach, I think about the pathways for my daughters and all our daughters in women’s sport,” she said.
“Whatever sport our daughters play, we want them to be safe.
“And what happened to Lisa shouldn’t have happened. I witnessed everything Lisa has said.
“They targeted Lisa. It was a big joke. They were trying to provoke her (by sexually harassing her) and making her feel uncomfortable.
“It got to the point where Lisa snapped in that camp and became aggressive ... and wanted to punch them.”
READ FOOTBALL AUSTRALIA’S RESPONSE TO THE BOMBSHELL ALLEGATIONS
The incident was also confirmed by De Vanna’s former manager and adviser, Rose Garofano, who questioned the sports governing body at the time, Soccer Australia.
“She (De Vanna) called me and said she was frightened, upset, scared and angry,” Garofano said.
“She (Lisa) said they came at her. (the players) probably thought it was funny and just part of an “initiation”.
“When Soccer Australia found out the full details of the incident, I was informed they’d deal with it in-house.”
OTHERS HAVE SUFFERED
Former W-League star Rhali Dobson has also claimed she was a target of predatory behaviour.
Dobson, who played for Melbourne City, Newcastle Jets, the Young Matildas and Matildas over a 13-year career, said the pressure off the field outweighed the pressure on it.
“Initially why I made myself so feminine was because I was trying to keep people away from me,” Dobson said.
“I know what it was like when I was younger, I didn’t want to even have a shower after the game.
“I’d wait until I got back to my room. There were a couple of us young ones that were all in the same boat.
“A lot of it is pushed under the rug. It was a case of grooming when I first came on the scene because I was asked: ‘Do I prefer boys or do you prefer girls?’
“I said I liked boys and remember just looking down at the ground and all the laughter and being told: ‘We’ll change that soon enough.’
“As you get higher up in the levels when it comes to the national circuit, if you don’t fit in with the crowd you won’t make it.
“It’s a world that’s very much still going, in the world at the top levels, and until you start addressing this, nothing is going to change.”
Dobson played her final game of her career for Melbourne City in March to support her fiancé, Matt, who is battling brain cancer.
The explosive allegations are a bombshell for Football Australia who earlier this year won the rights to hold the 2023 Women’s World Cup jointly with New Zealand.
The allegations are in addition to incidents highlighted by several other sports in Australia:
• In May, an independent review by the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) into gymnastics revealed accusations of widespread culture of emotional and sexual abuse;
• Swimming Australia has come under fire by complaints of poor culture made by former elite swimmers dating back decades;
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• Prior to the Olympics, Hockey Australia handed down a damning review of bullying, fat shaming and homophobic behaviour after several women came forward about alleged abuse in the sport’s elite program.
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