The transgender footy player whose participation in a women’s game was slammed as ‘cheating’ by a top cop is a child who was already struggling with her identity before the row erupted, Daily Mail Australia can reveal.
A senior South Australian police officer jumped on social media on the weekend to rant about the male-to-female transgender player being allowed to play in the women’s competition of the Adelaide Footy League.
The ensuing uproar has devastated the youngster who is said to be ‘struggling badly’ with the sudden focus on her and the atmosphere of ‘transgender hysteria’.
The police officer sparked controversy when he raged on Facebook: ‘When you are playing a women’s grand final and the best player award goes to a male, there is something wrong.’
Adelaide Footy League boss chief executive John Kernahan said the organisation was ‘really disappointed, even sickened’ by the SA police officer’s comments
‘So apparently men have no physical advantage playing against women! This is lunacy,’ the officer posted on the League’s Facebook page.
‘Adelaide Football League and the SANFL need to actually be brave and make a stance. The decision-makers need to be held accountable for such a poor decision.
‘This is not okay. By making one person comfortable, they are making multiple others uncomfortable.’
The officer, said to be ‘highly experienced’, referenced the ban that swimming’s governing body FINA had placed upon born-male athletes competing in women’s sport, and added: ‘A man can’t swim against a woman – how is it right for one to play a physical sport like football against women.
‘It’s not transphobic – it’s science and it’s cheating.’
The outburst came after the junior took part in a senior match in the amateur Australian Rules competition last weekend, when the women’s grand finals were played.
It can now be revealed that the player he vilified is actually a youngster competing in the senior league and already trying to cope with recent controversy around transgender women in female sport.
Adelaide Footy League chief executive John Kernahan told Daily Mail Australia: ‘There was a reference to a transgender player who is also a minor.
‘She has been approved by SANFL to play in the junior competition which also extends to the senior competition that we manage.
‘Anecdotal information is she is struggling badly with the focus on her and the hysteria around transgender debate anyway.’
The cop’s comments were deleted from the League’s Facebook page and branded sickening by Kernahan.
The experienced officer made the comments on the League’s Facebook page after a weekend women’s match
The league boss has since been targeted by anti-trans-in-sport activists who have bombarded him and AFL executives with furious emails blasting him for not protecting women from male competition in their leagues.
The debate over inclusiveness was a central campaign issue for Katherine Deves, the failed Liberal candidate in Sydney’s Warringah seat during May’s federal election.
She insisted she was defending ‘the right of women and girls to fair competition in sport’ by demanding a ban on transgender athletes competing.
World Rugby and International Rugby League last month both announced a ban on all transgender players from the full-contact version of their women’s games.
Australian Rules policy still welcomes transgender players as part of its game-for-all policy, but recognises it may give some players and teams a physical edge
Australian Rules, which has no overarching governing body, leaves its policy to be decided by individual leagues.
While the Adelaide Footy League has allowed the player in this case to participate, transgender player Hannah Mouncey was prevented from playing in the AFL and VFL women’s competitions.
However those are professional leagues, and the AFL has encouraged participation at lower levels.
‘The AFL policy to inclusion is really easy for us to honour,’ Kernahan said. ‘When and/or if the standards change, we’ll change with it.’
The sport’s gender diversity policy vows: ‘It is our view that all people are provided with an opportunity to participate in community football.
‘It is the SANFL and AFL’s view that, in community football, considerations of social inclusion have greater priority than concerns that may exist with respect to competitive advantage in relation to the participation of gender diverse players.’
The footy boss said the public should celebrate everyone being given the chance to play the sport, not dragging others down.
He added: ‘We understand the debate. However, don’t use our brand or social media platforms to extol views that don’t reflect the league’s compass on this.’
SA Police said it was aware of the posts by one of its own officers and they were being considered internally.
‘South Australia Police notes these comments reflect an individual’s personal opinion,’ said a spokesman.
‘SA Police is a diverse and inclusive organisation where all people are safe and respected and supported to reach their potential.
‘We are aware of the social media post and the matter is now under investigations by the Ethical and Professional Standards Branch.’
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