No adverse findings against trio in Hawks racism probe

By: Oliver Caffrey Time published 2023-05-30 at 08:42 PM (GMT +10:00)

The AFL has ended the long-running racism investigation at Hawthorn, with no adverse findings made against Alastair Clarkson, Chris Fagan and Jason Burt.

CHRIS FAGAN.
CHRIS FAGAN. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images

KEY POINTS AFTER THE AFL WRAPPED UP THE HAWTHORN RACISM INVESTIGATION:-

* No charges to be laid against four-time Hawthorn premiership coach Alastair Clarkson, his then assistant and now Brisbane Lions head coach Chris Fagan and ex-Hawk player welfare manager Jason Burt. The AFL say no league rules were breached.

* The AFL acknowledges the distress and hurt of Clarkson, Fagan and Burt after they were not given the opportunity to respond before explosive allegations were first made in an ABC report last September.

* The AFL also acknowledges each of the complainants' hurt, pain and anguish during their time at Hawthorn, with all three denying any wrongdoing from the start.

* The First Nations complainants have agreed to resolve all differences with the AFL. League boss Gillon McLachlan said no financial settlement was reached to close the investigation.

* The complainants are free to pursue claims through other legal avenues such as the civil court and the Human Rights Commission.

* The AFL has terminated the independent panel set up to investigate the serious allegations of racism at Hawthorn between 2008 and 2016.

* The AFL has left the door wide open for Hawthorn to be charged under league rules due to the commission and oversight of the club's cultural safety review.