NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2022

Hello friends,

Following Australia’s statement and many other nations calling out the human rights issues of Qatar, FIFA’s President has called out the “West” for being hypocritical just days before the start of the FIFA Men's World Cup.

Since then, player activism has been an omnipresent feature of the tournament. Teams have been threatened with fines by FIFA should they wear the “OneLove” Captain armbands which support LBGT rights. The German team posed for their team photo covering their mouths and calling out FIFA for not allowing teams to speak up about this important issue.

However, it hasn’t all been about Qatar. The Iranian players chose to stay silent during the national anthem in a symbolic show of support for the protest movement dominating Iranian society since September. Prominent former national team player Voria Ghafouri was arrested this morning in Iran for criticising the government. Meanwhile, players are risking reprisals from the Iranian regime if they remain silent during the national anthem of their following matches - the next one being against Wales, played tonight at 9:00 pm (AEDT).

England players continued their support of the Black Lives Matter movement by taking a knee in their first match.

Social change, including the calling out of racism, sexism, and repression, never happens without risk. What it does take is bravery, persistence, and solidarity. 

SMART PLAYS PODCAST

Key takeaways from Episode 4 of Smart Plays | Club Respect

Haneen Zreika and the Pride Round jumper. Netball Australia and Hancock Prospecting. FIFA Men’s World Cup and player activism. Athlete power is challenging the way sports are run. But what happens when inclusion in sport results in another group feeling excluded? How can we maintain respect for each other through the challenge of player or club advocacy?

On this episode of Smart Plays, Host Tarik Bayrakli chats with Rana Hussain about the modern challenges for clubs pursuing the inclusion of marginalised groups. Rana has worked in the inclusion and diversity sport space, including most recently in a diversity and inclusion role at Cricket Australia.

According to Rana, disagreement doesn’t have to equal disrespect and there are challenges for clubs who are confronted with different worldviews in the pursuit of diversity.

Diversity Themed Rounds and team jumpers should be the tip of the iceberg, the reward for club community engagement and programs to ensure everyone feels welcome to their club or sport. However, that’s not always the case where clubs are keen to support marginalised groups without adequate consultation with existing club members or as a profit-making exercise.

Key takeaways from Episode 5 of Smart Plays | Club Respect

“An environment that is free from harassment, bullying, degrading, or intimidating behaviour.” That’s the aim of Basketball SA who believe there’s absolutely no excuse or circumstance to act poorly towards others on or off the court.

State sporting associations hold a precarious position in Australian sports. They oversee and administer their respective sports from the top, but often lack the resources to ensure messaging and program take up at grassroots level. A predominantly volunteer workforce takes up this challenge, so the communication from the state sporting associations needs to be detailed, yet easy and compelling to implement.

Be A Good Sport is Basketball South Australia’s flagship program outlining the standards and acceptable behaviours in stadiums across the state. 

In this episode, we speak with Basketball South Australia's Operations Manager, Jacqui McConville, about the tinderbox atmosphere of Basketball and how leagues and associations around the state are taking a unified stand against anti-social behavoiur.

TOP POSTS ON CLUB RESPECT SOCIALS

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Love the NBA's warning card given to fans to bring awareness to their antisocial behaviour. At least if a fan continues to abuse players, coaches and referees and is thrown out, they can't complain they weren't given a chance. Can you see this working in Australian sports where fans cross the line?

#ClubRespect

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WARNING CARD: You are being issued a warning that the comments, gestures, and/or behaviors that you have directed at the players, coaches, game officials, or other spectators constitute excessive verbal abuse or behavior that is disruptive or interferes with a game participant or another spectator and are in violation of the NBA Fan Code of Conduct. This is the first and only warning that you will receive. If, after receiving this warning, you verbally abuse any player, coach, game official, or spectator, or engage in behavior that is disruptive or interferes with a game participant or another spectator, you will be immediately ejected from the arena without refund.

Sad to see this scroll of abuse that players receive from gamblers from a recent Herald Sun story. One of the less spoken negative impacts of sports gambling is players receiving abuse and threats from disgruntled gamblers who personally blame both winning or losing players for their financial losses.

“I couldn’t care less what they said to me, but when they say things about my mum and dad, that’s not it man.” said Sydney Kings guard Dejan Vasiljevic after receiving death threats from gamblers who lost big after Dejan hit a matchwinning 3 pointer in Game 2 of last years NBL final series.
 
Gambling responsibly is the aim, however, it’s tough going for many who lose their money and take out their frustrations on players directly. This is in addition to the impact gambling ads have on kids and young adults who see their heroes placed prominently on gambling ads TV commercials, in-stadium signage and online promotions.
  
Clubs are signing on to the Love The Game program, which aims to reduce the exposure of young people to gambling promotion by saying no sports betting sponsorship. 

Sadly there are no campaigns protecting players from disgruntled gamblers with anonymous accounts who are venting their frustrations and if not vigorously policed, could lead to a tragedy. 
 
#ClubRespect #GambleAware #LoveTheGameNotTheOdds #gamblingads #bettingads #gamblingadvertising

🔗 https://lnkd.in/gtpxrTf5

‘Sport is a game and we’re stealing it from children’. A powerful video from the perspective of a child playing football, addressing the constant chatter and abuse from parents and spectators.

#ClubRespect

🎥 credit: Fundació Brafa @fundaciobrafa

We respectfully acknowledge the wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their custodianship of the lands and waterways.