Homophobia In Sport Officially Outlawed
From February 2009, over 75,000 Victorian footballers and all spectators will have to abide by tough new anti-homophobia and anti-discrimination rules. The rules will cover all players and spectators across country leagues, football clubs, umpiring groups and football officials.
The new rules were initiated following the hot topic case of Ken Campagnolo. Former coach and trainer of 16 years, Campagnolo was sacked from trainer from Bonnie Doon Football Club after he was publicly outed bisexual and he revealed his sexuality. He took no less than 10 accountable organisations to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) and The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), including the Bonnie Doon Football Club, the Victorian Country Football League (VCFL) and the AFL.
VCAT ruled that the jurisdiction of the AFL extended only to elite players, and no further. However the awareness that has been created from the Campagnolo cases set into motion essential changes that needed to happen.
“When all this first started, yes, it was about me. But this isn’t about just me anymore… It’s for the betterment of all sport,” says Campagnolo.
Similar to racial vilification laws that have been in place for some years now, the new anti-homophobia rules that have been implemented by the Victorian Country Football League could see players banned from games if they are found guilty of serious sexually based derogatory comments, harassment or slurs.
Glenn Scott, VCFL’s chief executive officer, said he had worked with the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission to finalise the new code of conduct. According to Mr Scott, the new policies will simply be an extension of discrimination policies and procedures that are already in place, and he believes that they will be well received across the board. Mr Scott said the rules announced at VCFL’s annual seminar in December, and the practical applied policies, would be rolled out and implemented statewide from February 2009. And it is expected that these changes will be rolled out across all sport nationally in the coming months.
“If, for example, an umpire is called a ‘white poofter’ or something of a similar derogatory nature and the umpire finds it offensive, then that umpire can file a complaint to the league,” Ballarat Football League CEO, Rod Ward, explains.
According to Ward, penalties for breaking the rules could include the loss of premiership points, and the policy could be extended to spectators too, seeing them banned from attending games. Counselling for those that are found guilty is part of the strategy too.
“Sport is the last place where this kind of brutal discrimination is acceptable and is allowed to continue. It’s got to stop. I’m happy that I’m involved in putting an end to it. Glenn Scott from the VCFL needs to be commended for having the balls to do the right thing,” explained Campagnolo. “I’m quietly chuffed that when the players take to the field next year, that they will be playing by ‘Ken’s Rules.’”
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hazyinseptember
said ages ago