An amateur football team has filed sexual harassment and assault complaints with RCMP and Football Manitoba over the treatment of two girls following a game last month.
The Interlake Thunder team alleges one of its female players became the target of sexist comments and that a second girl was hit on her backside by members of an opposing Winnipeg team after the game in Stonewall on Sept. 24.
Isabelle McDonald, 15, plays on the midget boys Thunder team and says she was putting equipment away after the game when four opposing players approached her and began to catcall her.
McDonald says another female teammate came over and she says the players hit her on her backside.
Mitch Obach, past-president for the Thunder, says parents and coaches saw what was happening and split up the players.
The Midget Football League of Manitoba and Football Manitoba are investigating, and RCMP say they are investigating as well.
"Football Manitoba is assisting the Midget Football League of Manitoba in reviewing allegations from both teams," Football Manitoba president Brett Lesperance said in an email.
"We take these allegations very seriously as we believe in a fair, safe and fun football environment for all of our membership."
"It would be inappropriate to comment any further on these allegations at this time."
No one could be reached with the opposing team, the Falcons Football Club, for comment.
McDonald said she has played football for five years and that this is her third year playing in a boys' league.
She said nothing like this has ever happened to her before.
"It made me really uncomfortable and really nervous," McDonald told CTV. "I didn't expect they would say anything of that nature towards me."
(CTV Winnipeg)
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