The AFL has formally apologised to all female and non-binary umpires in response to a report that uncovered a culture of sexual harassment, misogyny and spectator abuse.
The University of Sydney study found those experiences were driving women away from officiating in Aussie rules at all levels.
Women make up only 10.8 per cent of umpires across all levels and 2.6 per cent at AFL level.
Many of the study's participants reported sexual harassment, including incidents of being touched inappropriately and sent unsolicited nude photos.
Acting AFL chief executive Kylie Rogers said the league was committed to ensuring a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for all women and non-binary umpires across every level of the game.
"On behalf of the game we apologise to any woman who suffers harassment or sexism of any kind, and would encourage them to report it to their local club, to their league or to the AFL itself," she said.
She said the league would continue its push for more women to be involved in every level of the game.
"We'll continue to do our best, we need to continue to invest in gender-friendly facilities, we need to look at more education and we need to review our policies and procedures and we will continue to work day and night until it is safe and welcoming and inclusive," Ms Rogers said.
The author of the study, Victoria Rawlings, who is both a researcher and a former AFLW umpire, said in the report the negative experiences women had in umpiring had discouraged greater participation.
"Overwhelmingly, this study has demonstrated that girls and women in umpiring navigate experiences where they are indirectly or directly told that they do not belong or deserve to be in umpiring," the report said.
The report contains a foreword from female AFL umpire Eleni Glouftsis, who was subjected to abusive comments after her AFL debut.
