The Australian Football League (AFL), notably the world’s only major sporting code without a single publicly gay elite male player, is the focus of this week’s Four Corners investigation on ABC TV.
In an episode titled “The Silence,” scheduled to air on Monday, 21st August at 8.30pm on ABC TV and iview, reporter Louise Milligan delves into the AFL’s culture, seeking to uncover the factors contributing to this conspicuous absence of openly gay players within the league.
Despite the AFL’s governing body signing a pledge a decade ago to confront and counter persistent homophobia within the sport, critics argue that tangible action appears to be lacking. Milligan engages with players, advocates, and supporters who collectively express bafflement over what they perceive as the AFL’s lack of decisive leadership on this issue.
The program features candid interviews with both current and former players, who recount instances of anti-gay bigotry that, according to them, continues to persist within the AFL environment. These players are united in their call for substantial change, urging the league to foster a more welcoming and safe atmosphere for gay players.
This Four Corners investigation aims to scrutinise the conditions that have maintained the silence surrounding the experiences of gay players in AFL and to stimulate discourse regarding possible ways forward for the league.
