“On June 1, 2022, the women’s team played their last home match against Bordeaux. At the end of the match, as had been customary for several seasons, two players whose contracts were expiring — and who were therefore wearing the club’s colours for the last time — were honoured with a bouquet of flowers.
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“This was neither the case for Mary Fowler nor for the teammate mentioned in her book, both of whom were still under contract with the club until 30 June 2023. It would therefore have been rather inappropriate for the club to offer them a ‘farewell gift.’”
The club said they had consulted the players present in the locker room during the alleged incident, and that they found no evidence to corroborate Fowler’s claims and could not identify the alleged perpetrator.
“If incidents of this nature had been reported and proven, the club would have taken all necessary measures as soon as they were brought to its attention,” the club said. “Racism is a serious issue that must not be exploited. The club wishes to reiterate its daily commitment to fighting all forms of discrimination.”
On Thursday, Football Australia released a statement in support of Fowler, saying, “Mary Fowler has shown a lot of courage in sharing her story, and by being open about her experiences, she will help contribute to broader conversations around athlete wellbeing, inclusion, and respect in sport,” Football Australia said in a statement on Thursday.
“Football Australia are committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for all players, at every level of the game. We have dedicated staff to support both the physical and mental needs of our players.”
With AP
