AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has hit out at Lara Bingle's legal team and management as the photo scandal involving Brisbane's Brendan Fevola continues to drag on.
Speaking in Perth on Friday, the league supremo expressed frustration that Bingle's management would not allow her to be interviewed by the AFL after the former model announced she was suing Fevola for allegedly distributing a photo taken of her in the shower during 2006.
Fevola was having an affair with Bingle at the time but has since denied distributing the picture, which surfaced in the media over the past few weeks.
"The legal team acting on behalf of Lara Bingle haven't been co-operative," declared Demetriou.
"I know that (AFL football operations manager) Adrian Anderson's team interviewed Brendan, they understand his position and that's why they are keen to interview Ms Bingle."
"We've made several requests to interview Ms Bingle, but they haven't agreed to those requests ... that's their perogative."
"I'm not sure why they wouldn't want to."
"They are pretty quick to get into the media and say all sorts of things and even tee off at the AFL, but I would suggest that if they are serious then they make available Ms Bingle."
Demetriou went further, though, as he all but accused Bingle's newly-signed manager Max Markson of dragging out the saga.
"I think Max Markson can determine how that goes, he's going beautifully," Demetriou said.
"He seems to be pulling all the strings and calling the shots, so we'll leave it to him."
The AFL boss also wouldn't be drawn on comments by former player Dermott Brereton that Bingle was aware Fevola was married at the time of the affair.
"I'm not going to comment on the private lives of people and what decisions they make," Demetriou said.
"Other than to say we treat the matter very seriously, particularly because we educate all of our clubs about taking photographs and distributing without people's consent."
"It's part of our respect and responsibility program, that's why we've taken this up and that's why we are keen to interview Ms Bingle."