Silencing the protests

A media release by Capital Football cited that a formal investigation is underway into Yoogali SC's conduct on social media whilst fighting for their livelihood, which ended with the following statement:
We thank all clubs and stakeholders for continuing to uphold the principles of respect, fairness, and integrity that are fundamental to football in our region.

Despite my staunch opposition to Yoogali SC in the past, I have protested this decision by Capital Football as I want to see Griffith, Wagga and Riverina's football pedigree thrive as it should. It is vital to work with the goodwill presented to the region by former CEO Phil Brown in accepting these regions into the (expanded) Capital Football region.

I have only referred to publicly available documents in commentary on Facebook. And definitely did not stoop to the level of some other active members on Facebook.

The silence from Capital Football was defeaning. On the morning of July 30th, I was beginning to write one last plea for Riverina football to continue to have a pathway in Capital Football. My aim was to tag every club in Capital Football in the post (among some other organising bodies/clubs in Griffith and Wagga's recent history), and Capital Football itself. Lo and behold, Capital Football no longer appeared in my searches...

I'd been blocked. Why? Well, I'm unsure.

The Capital Football Social Media policy states that:
'Inappropriate comments may be subject to action under the Capital Football Disputes and Disciplinary Regulations. The following process will be followed, although Capital Football reserves the right to use a different process to act upon serious offences:

First offence: The commenter’s Club will be contacted and a formal Warning will be issued to the commenter.

Second offence: The commenter will be banned from commenting on the Capital Football Facebook page for a specified time.

Third offence: The commenter will be charged to appear before the Capital Football Disciplinary Tribunal.'
Yoogali SC and Wagga City (as far as my knowledge extends) were not contacted about any of my social media activity. I personally was not contacted either. I received no warning, so I gather that it's been deemed that I was a 'serious offender'.

I wrote to Capital Football that evening asking for evidence of my apparent harassment/defamatory behaviour, and let them know that I fully intended to take this to Football Australia's Integrity Unit.

I was not contacted. I had no warning. I had no evidence provided. I have however been unblocked.

While I was typing my thoughts online about being unblocked, ironically enough, I did finally receive contact from Capital Football. No evidence. Nothing pointing me towards what exactly I've done wrong. Just a note that as they couldn't find a record of my membership towards a club in 2025, the Social Media Policy did not apply to me. I'd been granted a 'gesture of goodwill' that I've been unblocked.

No, 'Sorry we did the wrong thing.' No, 'Here's what you've done wrong.' Just a deflection.

I have since replied still asking for evidence of my behaviour that warranted this from Capital Football with no warning, and am yet to hear a reply.

I may not be Yoogali, and I may not be Wagga. However, I was the loudest voice in the room from Canberra. Capital Football tried to take that voice from me. No notes. No warning. No apology. With a perception that this was conveniently timed to coincide with the final announcement of their review that I strongly disagreed with.

Other than the referees (yet another stable of Canberra Football I've spent time with), this organisation doesn't deserve that respect from me, if they aren't going to communicate or apologise. There are certain people in the organisation that I do still have that respect for. I'm not going to name them on either side.

I guess this will go against the 'gesture of goodwill' gracefully thrust upon me once I informed Capital Football of the processes within their publicly available Social Media Policy.

But anyways, happy birthday to me from Capital Football I suppose - I'm no longer censored...for now.
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