WOMEN’S groups have slammed the AFL for allowing North Melbourne footballer Majak Daw to continue playing despite facing charges of raping a teenager.

Victims’ groups said the league was sending a dangerous message that sexual assault is not a serious crime.

Majak Daw has been charged on three counts of rape relating to an alleged incident involving a 15-year-old victim in Altona North in 2007.

The 23-year-old forward has denied any wrongdoing, telling the Herald Sun the allegations were ‘100 per cent wrong”.

The club has vowed to stand by the Sudanese-born player.

Daw yesterday kept out of the spotlight while family and friends rallied together at the Wyndham Vale home of his parents, William and Elizabeth Daw.

William Daw appeared calm, but did not want to speak about the accusations or how his son was feeling.

Victim support groups said football authorities should stand Daw down or he should voluntarily step aside.

Centre Against Sexual Assault forum spokeswoman Carolyn Worth said it was time the AFL considered any player charged with sexual offences as ‘bringing the game into disrepute”.

Ms Worth said no other industry would tolerate a professional remaining in an influential role with sex charges hanging over their head.

‘Until your name is cleared you shouldn’t be in a position of influence and I think those boys (footballers) are in a position of influence,” she said.

Women’s Information and Referral Exchange network chief Samiro Douglas echoed the calls for tougher action. ‘It must have taken a lot of courage for this woman to put herself through the trauma and bring these charges against a high-profile player almost 10 years later,” Ms Douglas said.

When questioned by the Herald Sun in May, Daw denied the allegations. ‘I’m so shocked to even hear about this,” Daw said.

andrea.hamblin@news.com.au