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Ex-Jets stars Dobson, De Vanna claim ‘abuse’ during football careers

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Australia’s sporting watchdog will investigate any formal claims of sexual abuse from women’s soccer great Lisa De Vanna.

De Vanna, a former Matildas and Newcastle Jets striker, alleges she suffered same-sex sexual harassment, abuse and bullying during her decorated 150-game international career.

Her former teammate and W-League stalwart Rhali Dobson also claims she was a target of sexual harassment.

De Vanna spent stints with many clubs, including the Perth Glory, Brisbane Roar, Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory, Sydney FC and the Jets (2011/12), playing nine matches and scoring five goals for the Hunter outfit.

Dobson, a Hastings junior, took the field for Newcastle (2008/09, 2011/12, 2013/17) on 41 occasions, eventually retiring from Melbourne City this year.

Football Australia (FA) is calling on any player, retired or current, to make formal complaints.

Chief executive James Johnson says any such complaint will be handled by Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) and not football’s governing body.

Johnson said tasking SIA with investigating any formal complaints would ensure allegations were managed “completely independent of Football Australia”.

“This will ensure that matters like those raised by Lisa and Rhali are dealt with appropriately and individuals have the right support around them in an independent way,” Johnson said in a video statement to News Corp.

“We must acknowledge that at the centre of this, we have two players who have shown great courage to speak about and to share their personal experiences.

“Lisa and Rhali, we see you and we hear you.”

De Vanna alleged abuse dating back to 2001 when she joined the Young Matildas squad as a 17-year-old.

She said she’d been sexually harassed, bullied and ostracised because of her reactions to such incidents.

FA hierarchy has met with De Vanna but Johnson said it was inappropriate to detail those discussions.

“In relation to Lisa, a legend of Australian football, we are serious and committed to deepening our understanding and knowledge of the claims being made,” he said.

Australia’s soccer players’ union, Professional Footballers Australia (PFA), said it was “deeply concerned” at the claims.

“We recognise the decision to speak publicly would not have been made lightly,” co-chief executives Beau Busch and Kathryn Gill said in a statement.

“It is critical the sport provides a safe and inclusive workplace and, importantly, the players are supported to come forward.”

De Vanna and Dobson are the latest top Australian sportswomen to go public with allegations of a toxic culture in their sport.

A Swimming Australia investigation is ongoing into claims of an abusive culture, which was triggered by dual Olympic medallist Maddie Groves’ allegations of misogyny in the sport.

Australia’s women’s hockey players, past and present, last year alleged body shaming among abusive practices at their elite level.

Hockey Australia’s president, chief executive, women’s head coach and women’s high performance director resigned after an independent investigation.

And, SIA played a key role in facilitating an independent investigation into gymnastics.  The Australian Human Rights Commission investigation reported in May this year the sport had enabled a culture of abuse, predominantly against young women.

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