Greater Western Sydney Giants player Haneen Zreika has broken her silence, a day after pulling out of an AFL Women’s (AFLW) match due to personal reasons.
The 22-year-old small forward decided to sit out the GWS Giants' match against the Western Bulldogs after deciding she could not wear the LGBTIQ+ pride guernsey.
“As the first Australian Muslim woman in the AFLW, I have a responsibility to represent my faith and my community. I respect people regardless of their sexual orientation,” Zreika said in a post on social media ahead of the match at Henson Park in Sydney’s inner-western suburb of Marrickville.
“This decision was extremely difficult and I appreciate the support of AFL, Giants, my team mates.
“Inclusion is about creating a space where people are able to respect their right to choose how they live their life as long as they don’t advocate hate and division.
"My platform is not a place for people to disrespect and harass others so please be kind."
The Pride Round is one of the AFLW's three dedicated events - alongside the AFLW Indigenous Round and the Good For Footy Round - that aim to foster diversity and inclusivity.
Zreika played in the club’s Pride Round last year when it was not a requirement for the players to wear a specific jersey.
Following the match where the GWS Giants defeated the Western Bulldogs 43 to 21, GWS Giants coach Alan McConnell said Zreika had attended as a spectator.
Sophie Van De Heuvel (bottom) of the Cats and Haneen Zreika of the Giants during a match in 2019. Zreika made her AFLW debut that year. Source: AAP
McConnell insisted the bond Haneen Zrekia shares with her AFLW teammates remains intact.
"As I said to Haneen, we can have similar opinions, different opinions, but they'll never break the bond that we have for one another and that she has with her teammates," he said.
"I'm very comfortable and confident that's all intact.
"We empathise with the challenges she faces in these circumstances.
"But equally we're really proud of the connection and obligations we have to the LBGTQI community.
"The truth is, this has been a special round and a special couple of weeks for pride round.
"But I'm actually really proud of the fact that we live really strong values in terms of inclusion every day of the week, every week of the year at our footy club.
"And in particular in relation to this term. I'm very comfortable with where we sit."
The AFL told SBS News in a statement: "We... recognise that sometimes there will be challenges between our stance as a code and people’s own beliefs and we respect the way the club and playing group have worked together to understand and support each other."
Zreika's decision to sit out on the march attracted some criticism on social media.
Ramia Abdo Sultan is the community relations adviser to the Australian National Imams Council
She said there was a difference between the decision Zreika has made to withdraw from the match and the actions of former Wallaby player Israel Folau who was sacked by Rugby Australia after making an anti-LGBTIQ+ post on social media in 2020.
Rugby Australia reached a confidential settlement with Folau, who is a Christian, in 2021 and said he acknowledged and apologised for any hurt or harm caused.
“The most important thing in all of that is that she hasn’t said anything harmful or hateful to any community,” Ms Sultan said.
“In fact, all she’s done is express her personal views that conform to her values and her beliefs. And I think it’s very important that we allow people those freedoms in situations whether it’s personal, employment or even sporting,” she added.
Zahra Babuji, vice-chairperson of Trikone Australia, a social support group for LGBTIQ+ South Asians living in Australia, and a queer Muslim woman, said the whole situation has been handled respectfully and sensitively.
“On one hand, half of me feels it’s sad that she made that decision, but then looking at how AFLW has actually handled the whole situation, I thought all of it was done really respectfully.”
Zreika became the first Muslim player and the first player of Lebanese descent to join the Giants when she made her debut in 2019.
Andrew Purchas of Pride in Sport, a national not-for-profit sporting inclusion program, said: “I think it’s very unfortunate that she holds these views but we need to respect that there are people who will hold different views in our society.
“And as long as they’re not using a platform or championing homophobic comments, then we need to respect the right of the people to do that.”
With AAP.
