A class action lawsuit in the US is taking aim at limiting the number of Australian athletes playing college football and the NFL.
Australians have become a key presence in US college football, particularly as punters, with Aussies making up half of all punters across the top 134 teams.
A punter is a specialist kicker, who punts the ball downfield to limit the opponent’s field position.
Most of them are on full scholarships to play and study, which has led to growing concerns among American fans and players.
So why are Aussies being sued for making it big in US football?
Dr Adam Cohen, sport business expert at UTS, noted that the NFL, once a symbol of American culture, is increasingly influenced by international players.
“Blue blood as it can get in America, and now it really is starting to be invaded by the outsiders and the international folks,” he said.
Programs like ProKick have helped streamline the recruitment process, training Australian punters and connecting them with US colleges.
The class action, filed by a local American, alleges that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is unfairly favouring Australian players, accusing them of breaching US anti-trust and constitutional laws.
One major complaint is that many Aussie punters are older and more physically mature than their American counterparts, giving them an unfair advantage in recruitment.
“One thing I’ve learned about college sports is never underestimate their ways to find loopholes or ways to get around stuff if it’s going to help the bottom line or if it’s going to help the team succeed.”
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