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A football club in Perth has been sensationally banned from fielding teams for the next two seasons after a player allegedly wore a costume featuring a doctored image of a child in a 'pornographic context' at an end-of-season celebration.
The Osborne Park Amateur Football Club has been found to have breached the Perth Football League's (PFL) integrity standards following a board meeting on Monday.
Last month, City of Stirling Mayor Mark Irwin alleged a player from the football club attended the team's 'Silly Sunday' party dressed in a costume with images depicting child pornography.
Irwin made the claim as the footy club had its licence cancelled and police were called after the unnamed player attended the function in August dressed as scientist Stephen Hawking.
The costume depicted the wheelchair and electronic communication device Hawking used as he suffered from motor neurone disease, with offensive images fixed to the communication device's screens.
Irwin said the outfit featured 'a gaming chair set-up, with screens ... with images photocopied depicting child pornography'.
Late scientist Stephen Hawking featured in the Silly Season costume that left a Perth mayor outraged
Osborne Park Football Club has been banned for two years over the costume incident
'This device was left in club rooms despite knowing the City of Stirling had to send staff there the next day (August 21) for an inspection,' Irwin told the ABC.
Newly-appointed Osborne Park Football Club president Jeremy LaBianca posted to the club's Facebook page saying a player wore a costume that was 'distasteful and unacceptable' during Silly Sunday celebrations.
'As a club, we are really embarrassed that we allowed this to happen and that we didn't intervene on the day,' he wrote.
'Let me be absolutely clear - this behaviour does not reflect the values or culture we stand for at Osborne Park, and we unreservedly apologise for the offence caused.'
Mr LaBianca took exception to Mr Irwin's take on the incident, saying the photo that was part of the costume featured the player who was wearing it.
'The allegation of child pornography hits me really hard, as it does for many members of our community who are parents, own businesses and have public facing roles. It's incredibly important to us to clarify this point,' he said.
'I would like to ask for some understanding on the impact this situation is having across our community of players and supporters.'
At a recent PFL meeting, it was decided that the conduct at an end-of-season event at Robinson Reserve breached a league by-law as 'being detrimental to the integrity of the league and bringing the game into disrepute'.
City of Stirling Mayor Mark Irwin claimed a football player wore a costume 'depicting child pornography' to an end-of-season party
The club was asked to provide a submission to the board but failed to, even though it claimed it was cooperating with the league.
PFL chief executive Andrew Dawe said: 'At a club-sanctioned event, offensive material was displayed depicting a doctored image of a child in a pornographic context.'
'Senior club officials were present but failed to act. The costume prop was later found by City of Stirling officers, prompting police attendance and the City terminating the club's agreement to use the facilities,' Mr Dawe said.
'A two-year suspension reflects the severity of the breach, and gives the club time to rebuild governance capability, re-engage with the City of Stirling to see if they can find a home for the club and time to demonstrate considerable reform before the possibility of returning to the competition.'
WA Police investigated the matter but decided that no action was necessary.
The Osborne Park Amateur Football Club has 14 days to appeal the two-year suspension.
The club says it is cooperating with the Perth Football League and the City of Stirling.
'While we acknowledge the seriousness of the situation, we firmly believe that the proposed consequence of shutting down an entire community club - with many years of history and deep roots in our local area - is grossly disproportionate,' Mr LaBianca said.
The club does not deny that the costume worn to its Silly Sunday party was 'incredibly distasteful' (Daily Mail does not suggest any of the pictured Osborne Park players were involved in the incident)
'Unfortunately, despite our efforts, the City of Stirling has refused to engage with us and have forced us to vacate our lease without explanation.'
The club claims it has appointed a new leadership team to guide it forward, offered that the player in question is given a ban from the club, and 'engaged openly and transparently with all stakeholders to demonstrate our commitment to real and lasting change.'
Many online thought the ban was harsh.
'Whilst I was absolutely shocked to hear of what the person was dressed up as, I do believe that it is an overreaction by City of Stirling,' one person wrote on Facebook.
'I hope that they can continue to have an open dialogue about the incident and hopefully make a decision that both punishes the club, and the footballer, but doesn't make the overall history of the club suffer.'
'Wow so the council got offended by a costume and overreacts like this. Seems a tad harsh, is it run by snowflakes?' another said.
Some didn't see the funny side to the incident, however.
'I think it says a lot about the character of other members of the club if the person in the offensive costume wasn't removed immediately from the event,' one person wrote.
'Yeah, was only having a laugh, just a bit of harmless fun mocking the disabled and child sex abuse. What's the world coming to?' another said.
The City of Stirling has been contacted for comment.
