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When will Eddie's gaffes subside?

Roar Guru
23rd August, 2016
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Eddie McGuire has gone from being in ice water to hot water. (Photo: Lachlan Cunningham)
Roar Guru
23rd August, 2016
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2470 Reads

Collingwood President Eddie McGuire has made another culturally insensitive comment on his morning breakfast show this week.

The comment related to people of African descent, and in particular Mo Farah.

Eddie McGuire’s quote:

“We are not going to win the 100 metres [inaudible], or the 1500 metres, until we maybe get some of these African kids who are coming to Australia now and getting them trained up to represent Australia, in the Mo Farah tradition if you like”.

Eddie’s choice of words was in relation to a discussion about Australia’s lacklustre medal performances at the Rio Olympics, which is confusing why he made the flippant remark at all given its limited relevance to the topic.

In a week when Port Adelaide made a strong stance against racism by banning indefinitely a women for throwing a banana at Eddie Betts, it is surprising that Edie McGuire was not more careful in how he expressed himself.

Unfortunately, this is a part of a long list of culturally insensitive comments from Eddie McGuire. A short snapshot of his culturally insensitive comments include.

2011 – Eddie calls Western Sydney the ‘land of the falafel’.
2013 – Eddie implies that Adam Goodes could promote the King Kong musical, in a week when Adam Goodes stood up to racism by pointing out a Collingwood supporter at a game for calling him an ape.
2015 – Eddie refers to Victorian Sports Minister John Eren as ‘a soccer-loving, Turkish born Mussie’.
2016 – Eddie makes comments about drowning Caroline Wilson.

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This is not me calling for Eddie McGuire’s head, as many people seem to do in situations when culturally and sexist comments are made by public commentators. Eddie may not fully understand the cultural sensitivities of his comments and he can be clunky when he is expressing himself, especially when he is trying to be funny.

However, as a Collingwood supporter, I am disappointed that these culturally insensitive comments continue from someone who represents the team I support, especially as he is the most high profile football president in the country.

I would like these ‘gaffes’ to stop and would like to stop having discussions around the water cooler about ‘what Eddie has done this time’.

I would prefer a culture that makes Collingwood a leader in understanding issues of gender and race, with the Collingwood President using his profile to lead the way – like Eddie did at the Big Freeze 2 in support for research into Motor Neurone Disease. Eddie raised funds through sponsors donating to get their logos on his suit, which he was wearing as he dived into a pool of ice.

Unfortunately, Collingwood does not have a great history with Indigenous issues but is showing positive signs through the Barrawarn Program and the Collingwood Football Club Foundation. Collingwood is also showing positive signs in relation to gender eqaulity by pushing for (and successfully getting) the rights for an inaugural team in the women’s AFL. However, these positive steps by Collingwood are tarnished if Eddie continues to make culturally insensitive remarks.

As it is a particularly difficult subject to navigate, I would like to suggest that the Collingwood Football Club provide Eddie with some cultural sensitivity training so that he is given as many tools as possible to be sure that he is aware of the language he is using in his various public appearances.

I would also implore Eddie to make Collingwood and himself a leader of the football community in relation to issues of gender equality and race to help change the perception of himself and our club on these important issues.

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