Bluey
16-01-2010, 06:27 AM
Melbourne, Victoria, a sururban footy club has sparked outrage by hopping into bed with a high class city brothel.
St Kilda City Football Club has struck a deal that will see the California Club sex parlour act as one of its main sponsors for its senior team in the 2010 season.
Defiant bosses of the Southern Football League reigning premier say they have no problem with the arrangement, and would even be happy for their players to "enjoy themselves" at the St Kilda Road bordello.
"It's purely an advertising stream for them, they want to put their name down. We're not forcing any of our members to go to the establishment, there's no contras, there's no forced sexual behaviours," club general manager Rod Gamlin told the Herald Sun.
"They wanted to get out in the marketplace (and) if they're lucky enough for our guys to go there and enjoy themselves then so be it.
"There's no physical contact without protection, there's no alcohol on the premises."
Club vice president John Lambris said the sponsorship was needed to secure the club's survival.
"I do understand (the concerns), I've got kids as well. But it's not like we're paying them for entertainment, it's just advertising," he said.
But women's groups and community organisations yesterday reacted with fury at the deal, believed to be worth $2000 a year.
"Clearly the AFL'S Respect and Responsibility program is not filtering down to the grass roots level as anticipated," said Carolyn Worth, spokeswoman for the Centre Against Sexual Assault.
"How can they even think that this would be acceptable? What message do they think they're giving young men?"
Former MP Phil Cleary also attacked the move, saying it would encourage negative attitudes towards women.
"I think there is a problem at the moment in relation to the way footballers in various codes treat women," Mr Cleary said.
"It has the capacity to compound the private problems that seem to exist in terms of the way some men in the football culture view women.
"It runs the risk of the guys in the club developing the bad attitudes we're trying to get out of the football culture."
The club revealed negotiations began late last year when the club had a female president, Trinity Ballis.
Ms Ballis said she understood the concerns of the community but the club needed the money to continue.
"Not a lot of local businesses will sponsor local sports. It gets harder for the club to survive," Ms Ballis said.
"They're not offering product, the boys will not be offered a free shag if they play well, it's just finance to pay league fees."
Rachel, a manager at the California Club who refused to give her surname, said the brothel was happy to support the club.
"We're a local business looking to support a local footy club," she said.
"We're a legal business in the personal services field, we pay taxes, we're just like any other trader and happy to support locally."
St Kilda City Football Club has struck a deal that will see the California Club sex parlour act as one of its main sponsors for its senior team in the 2010 season.
Defiant bosses of the Southern Football League reigning premier say they have no problem with the arrangement, and would even be happy for their players to "enjoy themselves" at the St Kilda Road bordello.
"It's purely an advertising stream for them, they want to put their name down. We're not forcing any of our members to go to the establishment, there's no contras, there's no forced sexual behaviours," club general manager Rod Gamlin told the Herald Sun.
"They wanted to get out in the marketplace (and) if they're lucky enough for our guys to go there and enjoy themselves then so be it.
"There's no physical contact without protection, there's no alcohol on the premises."
Club vice president John Lambris said the sponsorship was needed to secure the club's survival.
"I do understand (the concerns), I've got kids as well. But it's not like we're paying them for entertainment, it's just advertising," he said.
But women's groups and community organisations yesterday reacted with fury at the deal, believed to be worth $2000 a year.
"Clearly the AFL'S Respect and Responsibility program is not filtering down to the grass roots level as anticipated," said Carolyn Worth, spokeswoman for the Centre Against Sexual Assault.
"How can they even think that this would be acceptable? What message do they think they're giving young men?"
Former MP Phil Cleary also attacked the move, saying it would encourage negative attitudes towards women.
"I think there is a problem at the moment in relation to the way footballers in various codes treat women," Mr Cleary said.
"It has the capacity to compound the private problems that seem to exist in terms of the way some men in the football culture view women.
"It runs the risk of the guys in the club developing the bad attitudes we're trying to get out of the football culture."
The club revealed negotiations began late last year when the club had a female president, Trinity Ballis.
Ms Ballis said she understood the concerns of the community but the club needed the money to continue.
"Not a lot of local businesses will sponsor local sports. It gets harder for the club to survive," Ms Ballis said.
"They're not offering product, the boys will not be offered a free shag if they play well, it's just finance to pay league fees."
Rachel, a manager at the California Club who refused to give her surname, said the brothel was happy to support the club.
"We're a local business looking to support a local footy club," she said.
"We're a legal business in the personal services field, we pay taxes, we're just like any other trader and happy to support locally."