The Sydney Swans' sponsors have suspended their partnership with the players due to a police investigation
Several sponsors of the Australian football club Sydney Swans have suspended their ties with five players linked to a police investigation into an alleged sexual assault in Melbourne, according to ABC News Australia.
The players in question are Isaac Gini, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bays, and James Jordan. They have not yet been formally questioned, nor have charges been filed against them. ABC notes that there are no allegations that any of these players are accused of sexual assault.
Colgate, Volkswagen, and Telstra have confirmed that they have suspended or put on hold their activities with the players. Telstra stated that its ambassadors, Gini and Warner, will not participate in the company’s activities while the investigation is ongoing. Colgate-Palmolive has suspended its personal partnership with Gini, and Volkswagen stated that it does not tolerate violence, assault, intimidation, or abusive behavior.
Insurance company QBE and realestate.com.au expressed concern over reports of the incident. QBE stated that it has zero tolerance for behavior that jeopardizes the safety, dignity, or well-being of others, while realestate.com.au said it would await the results of the police investigation. Neither company has announced that it is ending its support for the club.
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Australian Red Cross Lifeblood also canceled a planned event scheduled for this Sunday’s Sydney Swans game. The organization explained the decision by citing the seriousness of the ongoing investigations involving the club’s players.
The club has suspended all five players for the remainder of the AFL season. The Sydney Swans emphasized that this decision is separate from the police investigation: the sanctions stem from the players continuing to drink alcohol late at night and bringing women back to the hotel. They have apologized for this.
Club chairman Andrew Pridem and CEO Matthew Pavlic apologized for the distress the incident caused the wider community, including fans, commercial partners, staff, athletes, and their families. They also noted that their thoughts are with everyone affected by the situation, especially the women.
Publisher Allen & Unwin has suspended the promotion of two of Gini’s children’s books and the publication of the third installment in the Little Isaac Footy Fever series. Bookstores Gleebooks and Readings, as well as the Big W chain, confirmed that they have removed these books from sale or suspended their distribution.
