The Australian Football League (AFL) and the Sydney Swans are confronting a question Australian sport has repeatedly failed to answer clearly: what should happen when players are accused of sexual violence, but the criminal process is incomplete – or inconclusive?

Yesterday, it was revealed several Sydney players are at the centre of a Victoria Police investigation after an alleged sexual assault at their East Melbourne hotel following a game against Essendon on Sunday evening.

The police investigation is still in its early stages and, separately, the AFL is reportedly set to suspend the players involved for bringing the game into disrepute.

The issue raises serious questions about whether athletes should be free to play during serious investigations (due to a presumption of innocence) or whether stronger action is needed.

The immediate aftermath

After news broke of the allegations, the Swans made a statement to “confirm several players were involved in an alleged incident”.

Since then, both coach Dean Cox and chief executive Matthew Pavlich expressed being “extremely disappointed”, while downplaying the incident, referring to the “situation” the players “found” themselves in.

It has been reported a complaint was made after a group of players went out drinking before inviting women back to the team hotel.

The police spoke to a number of people at the hotel, including........

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