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read moreFormer AFL star Héritier Lumumba is suing his former club and the League over racism he says he endured in his playing career.
Lumumba, aged 33, played in the AFL from 2005 to 2015, mostly for Collingwood FC, later speaking out about his experience of racism at the club, which he said included being given a nickname ‘Chimp’ by Collingwood teammates.
The club has been conducting an internal investigation into the allegations since June while the AFL has undertaken a range of ongoing measures to stamp out racism in the sport.
In recent years, several players have spoken about racism in the game with recent documentaries on Aboriginal player Adam Goodes - a two-time AFL best-and-fairest winner who retired after persistent abuse – prompting calls for the sport to improve.
Lumumba, who has Brazilian and Congolese-Angolan heritage, first voiced his experiences in 2017, advising that he had faced a "culture of racist jokes and ideas" at the club.
His allegations have been supported by other teammates - including former teammate Andrew Krakouer - but rejected by senior Collingwood officials and coaches.
Lumumba said he had been ostracised by coaches and teammates after criticising Collingwood President Eddie McGuire for making racist remarks about Goodes. McGuire later apologised for his comments.
Lumumba, who was the AFL's first multicultural ambassador from 2006 to 2013, said his experience improved after joining Melbourne Football Club in 2014.
In documents filed in the Supreme Court of Victoria, Lumumba alleged the league and his former club had failed in their duty of care to provide players with a safe environment.
The submission stated “on numerous occasions during his employment, the plaintiff was subjected to racial abuse or racially-offensive conduct.
Lumumba alleged the organisations had failed to protect him from abuse and took no action to stop or penalise players as a result of which, he had suffered "trauma, humiliation, distress, and loss of enjoyment".
He has declined to engage in Collingwood's internal investigation, saying the club should not be investigated by its own officials.
He had previously recounted experiences to club and league management.
In June, McGuire said the investigation would be done "forensically but we're not looking to prosecute", adding “want to find what's gone on. I've spoken to some people and I've found different things, the nuances that I had no idea (about)."
Collingwood and the AFL are yet to respond to the lawsuit.
Image: Wikimedia Commons/Flickerd.
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24th August 2020 - Decline in income forces AFL to restructure operations with 20% of staff to be cut
21st August 2020 - AFL will not use Aboriginal flag during Indigenous Round
26th June 2020 - Founder Greg Glassman sells CrossFit in aftermath of racism backlash
23rd June 2020 - Collingwood club to finally review refers Heritier Lumumba’s racism allegations
30th August 2019 - Indigenous NRL All Stars match secured for Cbus Super Stadium
15th August 2019 - NRL Chief Executives re-enforce zero tolerance approach to racism and abuse of players
7th June 2019 - AFL issues ‘unreserved’ apology over racism faced by Adam Goodes
23rd June 2016 - Rio Tinto to partner AFL indigenous programs
18th March 2016 - AFL’s McLachlan acknowledges acting ‘too slowly’ on Goodes
10th March 2016 - Collingwood’s McGuire leads push to demolish Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium and Hisense Arena for new AFL venue
4th August 2015 - AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan says the sport has zero tolerance for racism
9th December 2011 - AFL indigenous program receives Beyond Sport Award
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