An Adelaide Crows director has quit, criticising the AFL club's "forceful" mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy.
Nick Takos says he sought, and was refused, a medical exemption from having a COVID-19 vaccine.
"The AFL's COVID mandate, and the club's deeply concerning response to it, has left me with no choice but to step down," Takos said in a statement on Wednesday.
"While I am not anti-vaccination generally, corporations should not tell their staff and footy fans what medical treatment is good for them through a mandatory vaccination policy.
"I cannot support a coercive and forceful policy that does not consider the proportionate risk to players and staff.
"I cannot support a policy that unfairly discriminates against our highly diverse 60,000 members and over 650,000 fans who have a wide range of personal and medical considerations when it comes to vaccination."
The Crows have ruled that all players and officials must be fully vaccinated, after the AFL previously mandated the jab for all players and football staff.
The cut-off date for a first vaccination dose under AFL rules was November 19.
Takos said he became "increasingly concerned" after one of Adelaide's SANFL players was diagnosed with pericarditis, a serious heart condition.
He said the state league player was diagnosed "as a result of taking the COVID vaccination at the direction of the AFL and club".
"Based on this, I called a special board meeting to urgently discuss the player's condition, the health and safety of all of our players and other associated risks," he said.
"It was clear the board was immovable on this issue."
Takos said getting a COVID-19 vaccine was "ultimately a medical decision that we each have to make for ourselves and in some cases with advice from our doctors".
"The only option available was to fall into line at the expense of my personal (private) medical circumstances," he said.
Takos said he had "unique health conditions which have been deemed significant by my specialists" and his request for a medical exemption, supported by his cardiologist, was rejected by the club.
"I cannot agree to the imposition of that corporate edict on my health, values and convictions, and those of other staff, players and members, despite the personal cost," he said.
Australian Associated Press
