3 hours ago
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A footy club in Perth has had its licence axed and police called after a player reportedly dressed as renowned scientist Stephen Hawking for the team's end-of-season celebrations.
An employee from the City of Stirling council discovered the player's outfit while doing a property inspection of the Osborne Park Football Club clubrooms in August, reports the West Australian.
The council secured the club's premises and contacted WA Police due to the 'inappropriate nature of the items'.
'The City has since terminated the club's licence on grounds of unreasonable licensee conduct, as specified in the club's licence agreement,' a spokesman for the City said.
'The City added this unreasonable licensee conduct clause to the licence agreement in April 2023 after repeated difficulties dealing with club leadership.
'Terminating a licence is not a course of action the City takes lightly, but the conduct in question was not only unreasonable – it was completely unacceptable.'
Osborne Park footy club in Perth has been shut down after a player reportedly dressed as renowned scientist Stephen Hawking at an end-of-season party
Professor Hawking (pictured) suffered from motor neurone disease and died in March 2018
Professor Hawking, the eminent cosmologist, had motor neurone disease and died in March 2018.
The Daily Mail is not suggesting that the player involved has committed an offence, just that police were reportedly called.
Osborne Park Football Club president Jeremy LaBianca issued a statement saying a member of the playing group wore the 'distasteful and unacceptable costume' during the club's 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. 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,' he said.
'Since becoming aware of the incident, the club has taken immediate and comprehensive steps to cooperate fully with both the Perth Football League and the City of Stirling.
'Unfortunately, despite our efforts, the City of Stirling have refused to engage with us and have forced us to vacate our lease without explanation.'
LaBianca went on to say that the club's future has been brought into question.
The City of Stirling says that the council has 'explained in writing the basis for the licence termination'.
The Perth Football League (PFL) confirmed the club has been sent a show cause notice, meaning Osborne Park will need to provide evidence regarding the incident by the end of October.
The president of the Osborne Park Football Club said a member of the playing group wore the costume during the club's Silly Sunday celebrations (Daily Mail does not suggest any of the pictured players were involved in the incident)
The League will then decide on whether disciplinary action is needed.
'The PFL is aware that the City of Stirling has permanently ended the club's licence to use both the clubrooms and Robinson Reserve on the basis that the club has breached the terms of their agreement,' a spokesperson said.
'The PFL expects all players, officials and participants to uphold high standards of behaviour on and off the field that are appropriate to expectations of the important role that football plays within our community.'
