Football Victoria (FV) is proud to join some of the biggest sporting organisations in the state in launching the Victorian Government’s Racism Doesn’t Belong in Our Game anti-racism campaign.
The Hon. Ros Spence Minister for Community Sport launched Racism Doesn’t Belong In Our Game at the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation in Footscray today.
Delivered by the Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) and its CMSport initiative, in partnership with seven major state sporting associations, VACSAL, Vicsport and VicHealth, the campaign is designed to increase Victorians’ awareness of racism in community sport and its impact on First Nations and multicultural communities.
It supports clubs and sporting communities to recognise, call out and actively prevent racism to strengthen social connection and belonging across the state.
The campaign centres the lived experiences of players, coaches, club leaders and parents from across the seven partner sports, which shine a light on the deep impacts of racism, in an insightful video series.
Building on their landmark Anti-Racism Pledge signed in 2025, the campaign deepens the collective commitment of AFL Victoria, Basketball Victoria, Cricket Victoria, Football Victoria, Netball Victoria, NRL Victoria and Tennis Victoria, to address racism head-on and create welcoming, inclusive sporting environments for all Victorians.
FV Executive Manager of Equity, Growth and Government Relations Karen Pearce is excited about the potential impact the campaign can have when we collectively shine a spotlight on racism.
“It has been fantastic to work with CMSport, CMY and the other sporting codes to bring this campaign to life.
“The Racism Doesn’t Belong In Our Game campaign started with a pledge from all seven codes to tackle racism, and I really do believe that we can achieve that as a cohesive group pulling toward the same goals.
"Research tells us over 56% of Victorian community sport participants have reported experiencing or witnessing racism, a truly alarming number. We look forward to working together to lower that stat as we try to stamp out racism in sport once and for all.”
Former Melbourne Victory FC Womens and current Avondale FC player Gülcan Genitsaris, represented football in the campaign videos, believes sport has the power to unify people.
“Sport has the incredible ability to bring people together, create belonging and break down barriers. As a Muslim woman with Turkish heritage who has grown up, played and worked in football, I know how powerful it is when people feel accepted for who they are.”
“Everyone deserves to step onto a field, court or into a club environment feeling safe, respected and valued. Racism has no place in sport, and we all have a responsibility to create spaces where the next generation feel they truly belong.”
Carmel Guerra OAM, CEO of CMY and CMSport said: “The strength of this campaign lies in the collective commitment of major sporting bodies in Victoria to work together to acknowledge and address racism in community sport.
“Community sport should be a space where everyone feels safe and has a sense of belonging. But when racism happens in community sport, the impacts are felt long after the game is over.”
CMY is proud to collaborate with First Nations partner VACSAL to ensure cultural safety and self-determination are at the heart of the campaign.
Aunty Linda Bamblett, CEO of VACSAL, said on the launch: “Addressing racism is everyone’s responsibility. To bring about significant change and make sports free of racial discrimination it is ALL our moral and ethical obligation to call it out when you witness it.”
“It is not enough to be a passive bystander – you need to get involved by making a conscious decision to be a warrior in the fight against racism."
CMY will lead a social media campaign and statewide roadshow that engages the clubs, players, families and spectators of community sports across metropolitan and regional Victoria.
The campaign is part of the Victorian Government’s Anti-Racism Strategy and complements the broader Victorian sport sector’s ongoing work to create culturally safe environments.
The campaign’s video series and other resources are available at Sport and Recreation Victoria’s website: sport.vic.gov.au/anti-racism.
CMSport is a Centre for Multicultural Youth initiative driving social change through sport.