Football Fans Against Sexual Assault (FFASA) is a grassroots initiative set up in response to the 2004 sexual assault allegations against AFL and NRL footballers.

As footy fans, sexual assault allegations and club cover-ups severely affect our enjoyment of the game. This web-site is our response to situation. Because we love our football, it is aimed at positive action.

We recognise that sexual violence against women within the football codes reflects a larger problem within the Australian community (statistics).

As fans, we urge the AFL and NRL to take a leadership role by actively working to change any culture of tolerance for sexual violence within our codes. We believe this is necessary to restore football to an esteemed place in our hearts and minds.

In February 2005, FFASA submitted a 100 page submission to the AFL and NRL, called Towards Champions: A Better Culture, A Better Game, on behalf of the over 1000 signatories who signed the FFASA on-line petition against sexual assault and club cover-ups.

The AFL and NRL have since implemented policies and strategies to address violent and abusive behaviours towards women. In principle, FFASA supports these initiatives and recognises that the AFL and NRL are the first sports world-wide to take a code-wide approach to the issue.

FFASA continues to lobby sports, including the AFL and NRL, aiming to:

• Provide constructive comment based on current gender violence prevention research; and
• recognise code, club and player based achievement and progress in the area.

FFASA sees a leadership role for all sports in challenging the attitudes and behaviours that contribute to violence against women in our communities.

We invite fellow football fans, other sports people and personnel, as well as women, parents and members of the Australian community, to express your opposition to sexual violence against women and club cover-ups by adding your name to the petition on this site (petition).

You may also like to check out our new initiative Purple Armband Games at www.purplearmband.org