THE STATE OF PLAY | NEWSLETTER MAY 2023

Hello friends,

Club Respect supports the Yes vote at the upcoming referendum for a First Nations Voice to parliament and we applaud the professional sports leagues and associations that have already come out in support.

Statements in favour of the Voice have been incredibly powerful, reaffirming a club's dedication and support for First Nations (Rugby Australia's statement is my favourite so far). However, the reality for all sports is that behind the scenes there are a 'mixed-bag' of Yes and No voters.

Establishing a position in favour of the Voice requires consensus within the club, including its members, stakeholders and local First Nations groups. The challenge is to come to these consultations with good-will, ensuring that the perspectives of those dissenting are considered and not dismissed.

This has resulted in some club statements making heart-felt statements in support of the Voice, while also encouraging members to undertake their own careful research and consideration.

Here are a few excerpts from recent statements in favour of the Voice:

• Australian Football League (AFL): "While we encourage everyone to seek the information they need to form their own views on the referendum, the AFL proudly supports the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution through the Voice to Parliament."
• National Rugby League (NRL): "True change comes through listening, learning and taking action – and we encourage everyone in the Rugby League community to get informed by the facts, and use their voice, so that we can move forward together."
• Brisbane Lions Football Club: "We acknowledge there will be a range of views amongst our members and we want to make it clear that the Club is not directing you on how to vote. We respect the individual decisions of all Australians and encourage everyone to seek the information they need to form their own views."

Local sports clubs, leagues and associations that are keen to support a YES vote should consider the Together, Yes program developed by our parent organisation Victorian Women's Trust. Clubs can encourage some leaders to sign-up as conversation hosts and then extend invitations to club members to join the conversations. The club will only need to print the resource materials. For more info visit togetheryes.com.au.

We know that a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament will help to address the ongoing harm being done to Indigenous women, men and children; as well as help to set the scene for government to respond more determinedly and accountably to the needs and interests of First Nation people – now and for generations to come.

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Thanks to Michelle Redfern for having me on the Advancing Women in Sport Podcast - we got to chat about social inclusion through sports and what it's like being a man working in the gender equality sector. 

Tarik Bayrakli
Manager, Club Respect

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Season 2: Episode 13 -
Smashing The Patriarchy by Building Respect with Tarik Bayrakli

I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation on the Advancing Women in Sport podcast with Michelle Redfern. During our discussion, I had the opportunity to recount my personal journey from a banker to a passionate advocate for promoting respect and social inclusion within the sports community. As a man actively engaged in the gender equality sector, I also delved into the hurdles I've encountered while working towards fostering a more inclusive and respectful environment. 

Club Respect presents at the Sons of the West program

Conversations about men's health can have a positive impact by encouraging openness, support-seeking, and overall well-being. These discussions create a ripple effect that strengthens relationships, promotes healthier lifestyles, and removes barriers to seeking help.

Recently, I had the opportunity to present at the Sons of the West program in Ballarat, Maribyrnong, and Melton, where we explored topics such as gender equity, manhood, and masculinity. It is crucial to address men's issues, particularly when they contribute to high incarceration rates, deaths by suicide, and aggression towards others. 

By challenging traditional notions of masculinity and promoting positive expressions of manhood, we can pave the way for healthier outcomes.

Kudos to Western Bulldogs Community Foundation for their exceptional work in facilitating this program. Their dedication to making a positive impact on men's lives, as well as women's lives through the Daughters of the West program, is admirable.

Mary Crooks AO & Tarik Bayrakli present at Together Yes Community Information Session

Along with our parent-organisation, Victorian Women's Trust, we fully support a YES vote in the upcoming referendum on a First Nations Voice to parliament and have developed a national initiative to support the YES campaign.

The Victorian Women's Trust program to support the YES campaign is called Together, Yes. 

It relies on people stepping up to act as conversation hosts, agreeing to bring small groups together in their homes or in communal spaces. We help this process by providing high-quality, curated session materials for the hosts and their groups which build empathy and connection to the historical and contemporary issues underpinning the case for a Voice.

We've just concluded our national roadshow of 28 community information sessions where we visited every state and territory and have signed up thousands of people as Conversation Hosts. 

This is a great opportunity for sports leaders and sports organisations to support the Yes vote in the upcoming referendum by encouraging staff, volunteers, committees, players and supporters to sign on as conversation hosts and facilitate Together, Yes discussions within the club, their own familis and social networks. 

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Follow our LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter social media pages and join in the conversations! 

When will the abuse of match officials be treated like a crisis? The recent attack on a referee during a community football match in Sydney highlights the ongoing issue of referee abuse in sports. Referees are often subjected to abuse from players and spectators, which can result in serious injuries.

The suspended Greenacre Eagles player responsible for the attack has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm. The club condemned the violence and sensationally withdrew the team from the competition for the rest of the season.

The incident has prompted support for referees and calls for action to create a safe and respectful environment for everyone involved in sports.

It's time for all sports organisations to take a proactive approach to prevent referee abuse. This includes implementing stricter penalties for abusive behaviour, better training and support for referees, and promoting a culture that values and respects the role of referees in ensuring fair play and sportsmanship.

It's essential to recognise the seriousness of the problem and take immediate action to protect referees and create a safe and respectful environment in sports. Referee abuse must be addressed, and everyone has a role to play in making it happen.

#ClubRespect #Referee #Abuse #Respect

White Card! Introduced by Portuguese authorities to encourage teams to act in a sporting manner and get immediate positive recognition.

Referee Catarina Campos made history in a Women's Portuguese League Cup match between Sporting and Benfica when she gave the first ever 'white card' to the medical staff from both sides after they rushed to the aid of a fan who felt unwell in the stands.

Supported by FIFA, a white card can be shown to anyone who is involved in fair play and is designed to improve the ethics in the sport.

Fair-play is the hallmark of respect in sport. Moments like these don't have to be few-and-far-between and can be embedded in the culture of community and professional sports. Could we see this happen in Australian sports?

#Ethics #Sports #Respect #fairplay #culture

Check out the video link: CR LinkedIn 

Unity, respect, and inclusivity are fundamental values in professional sports, but recent events have once again shed light on the urgent need to address the issue of spectator abuse.

The distressing incident involving Real Madrid football player Vinicius Junior serves as a stark reminder of the racial abuse faced by athletes, with derogatory chants from Valencia fans tarnishing the match and resulting in a brawl that led to Vinicius Junior's dismissal.

Sadly, spectator abuse, particularly in large numbers, is not a new phenomenon in Australian sports. The sustained "booing" of Adam Goodes from 2013-2015 and more recently of Jason Horne-Francis from Port Adelaide highlights the persistence of this issue.

Instances of crowds being banned from football matches due to racist and violent behaviour from spectators are not uncommon. In 2019, Serbia was ordered to play their next home match behind closed doors following racist behaviour by their supporters during a match against Portugal.

While it is necessary to take action against those responsible for abusive behaviour, what approaches can sports take other than simply banning all supporters for the actions of a few?

#ClubRespect #StandAgainstDiscrimination #respect #racism

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