WA Football Commission

To assist the WA Amateur Football League, the WA Women's Football League will join the WAAFL as they encourage all players, officials and umpires to wear a red arm band to help raise awareness of, and remove, racial vilification in football.

The WAAFL, WAWFL and junior clubs will embrace the concept across the weekend of 26 – 27 July, to coincide with the AFL’s Multicultural Round.

The red arm band symbolises Earth-Blood-Life; we come from different places but we are all the same.

Those wearing a red arm band will have committed to zero tolerance of vilification, no abuse, and an understanding that ‘we are all the same’.

All WAWFL clubs will be provided red tape for the initiative, and will encourage everyone involved in match day football to embrace the red tape to symbolise their support.

WAWFL President Carolyn Hills supported the initiative and said that racism had no place in football.

“Red Arm Band absolutely has the support of the WA Women’s Football League. Football is about getting out on the field and enjoying the sport we play. There’s no place for racial abuse on or off the field.”

“We’re hoping the nine WAWFL clubs are all behind this initiative. It’s a great step forward in removing vilification from football.”

Emerging Markets Manager Paul Mugambwa also believes the concept is a great initiative for community football with Red Arm Band round promoting a stance against racism on and off the field.

“Unfortunately racism still exists and there appears to be an increase in the amount of incidents occurring on community grounds”. He said

“While we don't think it will solve the issue around racism in sport, we are confident that it will raise awareness around a stance against racism in football through a united voice in the community”.

In conjunction with the AFL Multicultural Round, Red Arm Band round will be employed to acknowledge and celebrate the cultural diversity of a significant number of players within the game.

AFL’s Multicultural Round celebrates ‘Many Cultures. One Game – Australia’s Game’ highlighting the extraordinary power Australian Rules Football has in bringing people together regardless of their background.

All WAAFL, WAWFL and Junior clubs are encouraged to feature additional activities throughout the round in order to further support the initiative.

Red Arm Band round will occur over the weekend of the 26 - 27th July.