Carlton president Luke Sayers has stepped down from his position amid public scrutiny following the posting of a lewd photo on his personal social media account. Despite being cleared of any wrongdoing by the Australian Football League (AFL) after the Integrity Unit found his account had been compromised, Sayers announced his resignation, effective immediately, just moments after the AFL's ruling.
The incident occurred on January 8 when, during Sayers’ holiday in Italy, his X account displayed a graphic image of male genitalia. The post, which tagged the executive of one of the club’s sponsors, Bupa, was deleted within minutes. Following the incident, Sayers took to social media to state, “Sorry my account has been hacked — please ignore all posts,” before deactiviting his account.
Upon investigating the matter, the AFL confirmed after multiple interviews and examinations of evidence, “the access to Mr. Sayers' X account was compromised, resulting in the posting of the image (ie. by a person not being Mr. Sayers) and tagging another person.” The league emphasized their assurance, stating, “Accordingly, the AFL has determined Mr. Sayers did not breach AFL Rules.”
Immediately after the AFL released its findings, Carlton Football Club made public the details of Sayers’ resignation. A spokesperson revealed, “While considering all relevant details relating to the matter and with no finding of wrongdoing via the AFL Integrity Unit, Sayers has decided to stand down from the board.”
Reflecting on the turmoil caused by the incident, Sayers expressed, “The past two weeks have been very tough for everyone impacted by this unauthorized social media post. I deeply regret...that many other people, including my family, friends, and colleagues, and my football club, have been caught up in this matter.”
His resignation marks the end of his tenure with Carlton, which began when he joined the board in 2012, later taking over as president in 2021. During his time, Sayers was credited with significant contributions, including the appointment of current head coach Michael Voss.
Vice-presidents Robert Priestley and Patty Kinnersly will fill the presidency temporarily as the club seeks out Sayers’ permanent replacement. The board thanked Sayers for his significant service, stating, “On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, we would like to sincerely thank Luke for his significant service to the Club.”
The impact of the scandal did not end with Sayers’ resignation. It has reverberated through the club’s sponsorship relationships. Just hours after the board meeting, Bupa announced it would cancel its naming rights partnership for the upcoming Carlton event “Run For Respect,” which aims to raise funds for violence prevention against women. Bupa, nonetheless, remains as one of Carlton’s corporate sponsors.
Despite Sayers being cleared of wrongdoing, the ramifications of the scandal have proved damaging, with the league highlighting the seriousness of the incident. The AFL noted, “These matters are very sensitive...and we acknowledge the effect and distress caused to numerous individuals beyond those bound by the AFL Rules and Regulations.”
Despite the controversy surrounding his exit, Sayers maintained his resolve, requesting time away from the spotlight to focus on his family. He affirmed, “I will now deal with this away from the glare of the public and media spotlight. This decision draws a line in the sand.”
Sayers’ next steps remain uncertain, but he is known to have extensive business interests as the founder and executive chairperson of Sayers Group, which he established after leaving PwC Australia, where he served as chief executive for nearly three decades.
Moving forward, the Carlton Football Club is likely to face challenges as it seeks to recover from the reputational damage caused by Sayers’ resignation amid the scandal. Nevertheless, with leaders like Priestley and Kinnersly at the helm, the club will navigate this turbulent period with hopes of restoring its standing both on and off the field.
Despite the controversy, many at Carlton appreciate Sayers' integral role during his tenure. “Leading the Carlton Football Club has been one of the great honours and privileges of my life,” Sayers stated. His legacy remains to be determined as the team embarks on its future without him.