The Richmond Tigers player accused of sharing the topless image of a woman wearing an AFL Premiership medal without her consent is expected to face punishment from the club, the Age reports.
The Grand Final winner, who remains unnamed, has returned from a post-season trip to Bali with orders to cooperate with the AFL Integrity Unit and Richmond Tigers Football Club on their investigation of the incident.
The Age reports the club is understood to take the alleged breach of privacy very seriously, and that barring the player from all home-and-away matches in the 2018 season is the minimum sanction likely to be enforced.
Victoria Police had been investigating the incident, but ceased their operations on the matter earlier this week “at the request of the complainant.”
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, who have been representing the woman involved, said she “maintains that her trust and privacy has been breached” but that “her welfare is our main priority, as is restoring her privacy.”
Her legal representation denied any suggestion that an under-wraps settlement had been finalised between the woman and the player.
The club and league will investigate the matter and discuss potential punishment for the player involved in the following days. A decision on the matter – and a potential identification of the player accused – could occur as early as next week.
