Mary Fowler Alleges Racism During Time at Montpellier

PARIS, France – Australian football star Mary Fowler has accused her former club Montpellier of racism in her new memoir, “Bloom.” The allegations stem from a disturbing incident in 2022 when Fowler, along with her friend Ashleigh Weerden, received bananas as parting gifts, while other teammates were given flowers.

The 22-year-old forward detailed her experience in a chapter titled “No Great Days.” Fowler joined Montpellier in 2020 but left after a difficult three-year stint. At the end of her tenure, she and Weerden were two of only six Black players on the team.

“Afterwards, in the changing room, some teammates questioned why we hadn’t received flowers. A player handed us bananas, saying, ‘Here, have these.’ That was the cherry on top,” Fowler recounted.

She expressed her disbelief at the incident, questioning whether it was an honest mistake or something more sinister. “Not receiving flowers was one thing, but receiving bananas wasn’t something I could laugh off,” she stated. Fowler further shared that attempts to justify the gift were met with frustration due to ongoing issues at the club.

In addition to the incident with the bananas, Fowler also described feeling dismissed by club medical staff. She reported that a physiotherapist accused her of faking chest pains to avoid playing. “I couldn’t believe what I was hearing,” she said, recalling discussions with club staff where her health concerns were trivialized.

Despite her struggles, Fowler ultimately was allowed to miss games for medical checks, which cleared her of any serious heart issues. She later emphasized how fortunate she was that her health concerns did not end her career.

Montpellier has not yet responded to the allegations made by Fowler. The revelations come as more players in women’s football are speaking out against racism within the sport.