A young woman left suicidal after group sex with members of an NRL football team was "dehumanised" for a second time when Channel Nine presenter Matthew Johns failed to apologise to her directly on The Footy Show last week.
In a Four Corners program that aired on ABC television last night, the woman, known only as Clare, said she had sex with Johns and another player from Johns' former club Cronulla when the team toured New Zealand in 2002.
Clare, who was 19, said up to 10 other players and staff were in the room at the time, fondling her and masturbating against her wishes.
In a preemptive strike last Thursday night, Johns appeared on his popular rugby league panel show to apologise for the "embarrassment" caused by the incident, stressing the matter had been investigated by police and no charges had been laid.
But Brisbane Rape and Incest Survivors Support Centre counsellor Karin Cheyne said the apology, in which Johns made mention only of the hurt he had caused his wife and family, showed player acceptance of their own bad behaviour was a long way from improving.
"The most disgusting thing was the pat on the shoulder he got from the guy sitting next to him (co-host Paul Vautin) on the panel," Ms Cheyne said.
"I think she (Clare) would have seen that and felt dehumanised all over again. It also shows that the attitude in football is `Don't worry mate, you didn't do anything wrong.'
"Well, if there isn't something wrong with 12 men being in a room watching a 19-year-old girl (having sex) and masturbating themselves, I don't know what is."
Ms Cheyne said the performance by Johns, now an assistant coach at the Melbourne Storm, discredited claims by NRL boss David Gallop this morning that inroads had been made to change player attitudes towards women since an alleged gang rape scandal involving the Canterbury Bulldogs at Coffs Harbour in 2004.
"The culture of football - this toxic mix of alcohol, sex and sport - has to change...and while education is part of it, there has to be punishment involved," she said.
"If they (clubs) are going to create the gladiator on the field, they have to prepare them for when they get off it. These men have got to be taught to use their brains, not just their dicks."
Ms Cheyne said the public view that "football groupies" or women who chose to "assert their sexuality" had to accept some blame in sexual abuse was just as damaging.
"That is a really common response towards victims of rape and sexual abuse victims and just another thing they have to live with."
She said the fact that charges were not laid did not mean the players had acted legally or appropriately.
"The mental pressure (Clare) felt to do this is about being demeaned, being put down and made to feel like what she wanted didn't matter; that she was not a person with valid feelings and rights.
"The fact that she has considered suicide is not surprising. Lots of women go through that, they self harm, they have difficulty forming relationships."
Asked if Clare would feel a sense of justice following the airing of last night's program, Ms Cheyne said it was unlikely.
"I think this morning she'd probably be re-experiencing what happened to her and is probably in shock.
"The horrible part is that there has been no validation for her."
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