Collingwood will refer claims of racism against former player Héritier Lumumba to an integrity committee (IC) made up of internal and independent assessors, the club has announced.
Earlier this month Lumumba accused the club, including long-time president Eddie McGuire, of turning a blind eye to racist nicknames and failing to support him and his claims during his 10-year stint with the club.
In a statement released on Monday evening, Collingwood director Jodie Sizer said it was "a serious issue" and the club was in the process of "seeking external and independent expertise to assist the committee."
"As a board we have come together and unanimously agreed we need to take action. The integrity committee has started to map a way forward," Sizer said.
"From my perspective the whole of Australia is on an important journey as it deals with racism, the impacts of racism and considers what, as a nation, we want to be and are to become.
"Collingwood is also on its own journey and important to both quests is truth telling. Understanding the truth, owning the truth and supporting those in sharing their truths is a key next step for any action.
"We would like to talk with and listen to Heritier because his truth is a critical part of this."
Magpies CEO Mark Anderson will sit on the IC alongside Sizer and fellow director Peter Murphy.
Sizer said the club had reached out to Lumumba with no response.