A couple of weeks ago, I wrote an article calling for the sacking of Lucas Neill. My argument was based on Les Murray’s now-disproved claims that Neill was the catalyst for a mutiny against the then-Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek, before the first Australian game of the 2010 football World Cup against Germany.
Like many others, I was led to believe this accusation on the basis that it was printed in Murray’s tell-all book about the World Cup, and as a journalist, Murray staked his reputation on his claims.
It is true, I still hold a lot of residual anger for the disgrace that was last year’s ‘Disaster in Durban’ and perhaps I reacted too quickly to trust Murray’s words.
However, I find it very disappointing that Murray allowed a blatant mistruth to drive the sales of his book and mislead the Australian public on such a difficult topic.
I also feel for Neill, for he is the victim in all of this.
I’m sure that many others like me saw a way to explain what happened in that game that made sense, and also, like me these people took the reputation of Murray as the collateral on which to believe his claims.
As Murray has retracted his claims against Neill, I too would like to retract my sentiment in my previous article calling for Neill to be sacked.
Perhaps even worse than the accused (and now disproved) crime of Neill’s is the crime of spreading mistruth about what happened in the Socceroos dressing room on that fateful night.
Admittedly, I have been on a hiking holiday (without access to the internet) for about a week. However, only today, I learned of the fact that Murray had apologised to Neill and retracted his claims.
It seems very unfair that the discussion of the alleged mutiny of Neill’s was a heated and drawn-out debate and yet very little has been made of Murray’s printed mistruths.
I hope that by writing this I can add to the discussion of Neill’s innocence and the fact that Murray now has some very serious questions to answer about his journalistic integrity.
PeterK
Guest
Les who? He won't be selling a book to me!
John
Guest
One has to asses the character of Les Murray. This is a man who fled Hungary as a refugee as its Stalinist system was suppressive and undemocratic. In fact I recall Les tell a story how his father spoke out against the communist regime in Hungary. Consequently their home was targeted by neighbours, being vandalised with eggs and fruit and at one time paint markings. This was as Les’ father said ‘the last straw.’ While living in Australia, Les has continually emphasised the need of democracy and the ‘fair go.’ Fast forward to today and this man is allegedly behaving in the same way at SBS, suppressing dissent about world cup bids, the FFA and FIFA. This has resulted in the departure of well known commentator Jesse Fink and caused rumblings in the sports dept. at SBS. What’s Hungarian for hypocrisy?
John
Guest
"We’ve been lied to buy a journalist NOW WAY." Perhaps that should be: We've been lied to by a journalist. NO WAY.
Midfielder
Guest
Agree mate ... the sooner the better...
TomC
Roar Guru
Nice piece, Growl. I always had my doubts about Murray's story, but I don't think Verbeek was as bad as some others do. I think the writing has been on the wall for Murray for a while. Some of his opinion articles over the past couple of years have been very strange. I remember one where he responded to another Rebecca Wilson article getting stuck into soccer by attacking her 'leathery' skin. Recently he gave a speech saying Asian people shouldn't feel that they'll never be good enough at football because they're too short. I expect that SBS will allow Murray to depart on his own terms at some point in the next couple of years. Murray is highly regarded at SBS and they would piss off a lot of their own staff if they dumped him after this controversy.
floppybottom
Guest
it is curious to me that what les initially accused neill of was what craig foster was calling for at the time, ie, a mutiny... both foster and murray are an embarrassment...
Bondy
Guest
We've been lied to buy a journalist NOW WAY. Alas im expecting the " Silver Fox " Murray to abort any early retirement plans due to the book's lack of credibility . And Les will soilder on with Foz in the S.B.S Football bunker for another 25 years .
Futbanous
Guest
Methinks it will soon be time for Les to hand over the reins to a younger fresher mind at TWG. Hopefully not Foz,unless we want revolution & anarchy not measured balanced evolution for football reporting at SBS.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Nice article, BrisbaneGrowl - it takes guts to publicly admit you got it wrong, so bravo to you! I'd be surprised if either Lucas or Les allow this incident to impact their "football relationship" and, with so much happening every day in the world of football - even in the off-season (Women's WC, u17 WC, potential player transfers, the return of H! - this is already yesterday's news and I'd be surprised if (m)any football fans in Australia gave it even a second's thought any more.
Roarchild
Guest
Personally I didn't buy the mutiny story for a second. While a lot of fans and the media loathed Pim Verbeek as well as the players on the outside (like Griffiths). He seemed a players coach to me, very loyal to his starting 11and understanding of club isues. I would be surprised if any of the regulars harbored resentment and anything negative about Pim from the players seems to come form the media battering them about it.
Chris
Guest
And perhaps when the next scandal comes along you can learn from your mistake and not trust a 'journalist' to be telling the truth before spouting off in a huff.
Mick
Guest
Journalistic integrity, you"r having a laugh I hope? Robbie Slater had something to say about Harry Kewell without backing it up & nobody backing him up & Kewell responded People / journos / media make accusations & the other party responds, right or wrong it is the way is, get over it
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
As far as retractions goes that was probably one of the more eloquent, BrisbaneGrowl. Well done.