AFL and AFLW players have backed a push from Australia's biggest professional sporting bodies against the federal government's proposed religious freedom bill.

Aliir Aliir, Darcy Vescio and Bachar Houli – who were on Wednesday named as AFL multicultural ambassadors – all spoke in support of the inclusive environment that the league has fostered and is continuing to build on from grassroots to the professional level.

The AFL's multicultural ambassadors for 2020, from all levels of footy, including Bachar Houli, Aliir Aliir, Darcy Vescio and Haneen Zreika. Credit:Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

The Coalition of Major Professional & Participation Sports [COMPPS] – whose seven members include the AFL, NRL and Cricket Australia – fears the proposed bill would make it harder for sporting bodies to discipline players who make discriminatory remarks and would compromise the inclusive environments they have built within their sporting communities.

Carlton star Vescio said that accepting atmosphere being nurtured within Australian Rules football "needs to be protected because it is the best part about the game".