Name: AFL says it isnt responsible for player safety in racism class action
Uploaded: 2025-11-21T12:24:56.606Z
Duration: 1 min 46 s
Description: The AFL will defend itself against a class action seeking damagers for racial abuse experienced by Indigenous players, stating since it does not directly employ the athletes, it is not responsible for their safety.

The AFL will defend itself against a class action seeking damagers for racial abuse experienced by Indigenous players, stating since it does not directly employ the athletes, it is not responsible for their safety.

Melbourne

The Australian Football League (AFL) has formally outlined its defence in a class action lawsuit led by former Indigenous players Nikki Winmar and Phil Cracker. The plaintiffs are seeking damages for racial abuse experienced by Indigenous footballers from opposition players and spectators between 1980 and 2025. 

The AFL argues it did not directly employ the players and was not responsible for their safety, stating that the risk of racist abuse was similar to that in broader society. Both plaintiffs and their legal team have criticized the AFL's stance, while the league has committed to continuing its anti-racism efforts as the case moves toward mediation scheduled for March next year.

AFL says it isn't responsible for player safety in racism class action

The AFL has revealed how it plans to find accusations of racism as part of a landmark class action led by former Indigenous stars Nikki Winmar and Phil Cracker. Harvey Biggs joins me now. Harvey, this is the first time the league has detailed its defence. It is Taylor and essentially the AFL is arguing it did not directly employ the players and thus was not responsible for their safety and the risks of racist abuse were akin to those in the wider community. The league lodged its defence in response to a case brought by Nikki Winmar and Phil Cracker, two stars of the game in the 80s and 90s. They are the lead plaintiffs for a group action seeking damages for racial abuse suffered by Indigenous footballers from opposition players and spectators between 1980 and 2025. The AFL admits both men did experience racism on the field but argues the risk of racist abuse occurring in the course of matches within the AFL competition was comparable to the risk arising in other fields of endeavour and areas of life. We have heard from Phil Cracker. He says the AFL's defence hurts. We couldn't defend ourselves against racism in the AFL. We were in an impossible position. If we fought back we were often reported or suspended. The AFL could have done something and they chose not to. Here's the lawyer leading the class action. The defence brought by the AFL is incredibly disappointing and incredibly saddening to our group members. The AFL has shirked responsibility for failing to provide a safe place to play the game. The AFL says it will continue to work through the class action and will continue its work against racism. This will likely head to mediation in March next year.

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