AFL denies duty of care for players subjected to racism

The AFL has denied it owed a duty of care to Indigenous players subjected to racist abuse from other players and spectators.

The league has filed in the Victorian Supreme Court its defence to the racism class action led by former First Nations players Phil Krakouer and Nicky Winmar.

The class action claims the AFL should have protected the players from risk of harm, alleging they suffered physical, psychological and psychiatric injuries as a result of the racist abuse.

In court documents filed this month, the AFL admitted Krakouer, Winmar and other Indigenous players were from time-to-time subjected to physical and verbal racist abuse from other players and spectators.

But the league denied specific allegations made by the lead plaintiffs, including that they were routinely spat on and