One of the three men at the centre of a racism investigation has lashed “false allegations” and labelled the report that kickstarted it “a disgrace”.
Jason Burt was the welfare manager at Hawthorn during the time Alastair Clarkson was head coach and Chris Fagan was head of football at the AFL club.
All three were investigated by an independent committee after the Hawks commissioned a report into accusations made by former players of racist discrimination.
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On Tuesday an AFL statement confirmed the investigation was complete, and no adverse findings were levelled against Burt, Clarkson, or Fagan, although the club itself may still come under scrutiny.
Following the statement, Fagan – who is now head coach of Brisbane – released his own comments and labelled the eight-month investigation a “farce”.
Burt, who no longer works in the AFL, had remained silent since the allegations were aired in an ABC report last year, but on Wednesday took to social media with a passionate statement.
“The Binmada ‘report’ commissioned by Hawthorn and leaked to the media was a disgrace,” Burt wrote.
“The leaking of it to the media by whoever did it, was even worse. Yet within this process, it has been heartening to review the documents and interviews shared by all past players and officials (many Indigenous) who speak a different truth about how the Hawthorn Football Club operated in the same time as these vile allegations. The AFL could not speak this truth yesterday (Tuesday).
“The independent panel had been provided with thousands of documents from Hawthorn for review. Moreover, I also provided the AFL with detailed information which I believed demonstrated our innocence, and is now supported by this finding, of the awful allegations that have been made by the complainants and leaked to the media without any opportunity to respond. Chris, Alastair and I were refused access to the Hawthorn documents until last week.
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“This is a case of four men (former players) that spent time at Hawthorn who all needed substantial guidance, support and care. This is what they, and so many other players, received from many people over their time at Hawthorn, including from Alastair, Chris and myself.
“All four former players have spent time in my house, with my family as part of the club’s method of helping each to resolve their issues. Their time at Hawthorn was maximised because of the on and off-field support offered to each.
“If the outcome of this ‘imperfect resolution’ appeases the complainants, then I wish them well. Unfortunately, this outcome has done little to diminish the anguish and hurt experienced by my family throughout this ordeal and most likely well into the future.
“Few people would appreciate the path Alastair, Chris and I have walked for the past eight months under the weight of these grave and false allegations. I am glad that the allegations have finally been dismissed by the AFL and the independent panel and look forward to the opportunity to reveal the truth in any further proceedings.”
Wide World of Sports has contacted the AFL for comment.
Clarkson stood down indefinitely from his job as North Melbourne coach last month and has not commented since the AFL release on Tuesday.
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