AFL club Essendon have terminated the membership of a fan who racially vilified Sydney’s dual Brownlow medallist and Australian of the Year Adam Goodes during Friday night’s game at Etihad Stadium.
Essendon chief operating officer Xavier Campbell said on Tuesday the club would not tolerate racial vilification in any form.
“As a club, we do not accept appalling behaviour of this nature – no matter your race, religion or gender, football is a game of inclusion,” Campbell said in a statement.
“It is extremely disappointing incidents of this nature are still occurring.”
Victoria Police ejected the offending supporter from the stadium after being alerted by members of the public.
“I commend our supporters for taking a stand and having the courage to report this matter to the appropriate authorities,” said Campbell.
“If you’re going to behave in this manner, we don’t want you attending our games.
“The member in question has expressed his deep remorse for the incident and accepted full responsibility for his actions.
“His membership has been terminated and his reapplication for membership will only be considered after he has undertaken a racial vilification education program.”
Goodes, 34, was not aware of the incident until after the game which Sydney won by 50 points.
“On behalf of the entire Essendon Football Club, I want to publicly apologise to Adam Goodes for this extremely disappointing incident,” Campbell said.
“Essendon prides itself on diversity and inclusion – players and fans deserve and expect the right to enjoy sport free from any form of abuse or harassment.
“As a club, we will now work even harder to educate our members and supporters about racial vilification and cultural awareness in our game.”
Goodes was also the subject of a racial slur during a match against Collingwood in May last year, when he was called an “ape” by a 13-year-old fan.
On that occasion, he alerted officials to the girl who abused him and she was escorted from the MCG.
“I’m pretty gutted, to be honest,” said Goodes, one of the most decorated Aboriginal players in VFL/AFL history.
“The win, the first in 13 years, to be up 47 points against Collingwood, to play such a pivotal role just sort of means nothing.
“To come to the boundary line and hear a 13-year-old girl call me an ape, and it’s not the first time on a footy field that I’ve been referred to as a monkey or an ape, it was shattering.”
The Western Bulldogs also revealed on Tuesday that one of their supporters had racially abused Melbourne’s indigenous utility Neville Jetta during their May 12 clash at the MCG.
Although the abuse was reported, the man was not ejected from the stadium by security personnel and attempts to identify him have so far proved unsuccessful.
Western Bulldogs chairman Peter Gordon said the club apologised unreservedly to Jetta and his family.
“We are ashamed of the actions of this person who by his actions has damaged the fabric and the reputation of our club,” Gordon said in a statement.
“We have no tolerance for ignorant racial abuse and we will continue to make efforts to identify this person and to deal with him under our supporters’ code of conduct.
“It has been the club’s initiative to make this matter public and to acknowledge the wrongdoing of one of our own supporters.
“When racist abuse rears its ugly head, we will never as a club do what this person has done … disappear into anonymity. It happened. One of our own supporters did it. We are all diminished as a consequence. But we will not let it pass.
“Even though we need every supporter we can get … we don’t need supporters who behave like this.”
Jetta, 24, said he was disappointed that his family and friends had been subjected to the racial slurs.
“It’s completely unacceptable that these sorts of comments still exist in our society today,” he said in a statement.
“I was upset that my family and friends were subjected to this type of behaviour and that it still exists within the AFL, as they have done a terrific job in educating society that racial vilification is unacceptable.
“This is an opportunity to educate society.
“Just because I didn’t hear the remark firsthand, this doesn’t mean that it is any less offensive or hurtful.”
vocans
Guest
Axle, Nicky Winmar began a journey from which we've all benefited, and Goodsey has too. So much so that he has a right to expect something different from the AFL, and I'd be very dirty on the AFL if it didn't deliver. On this occasion Goodsey has not needed to stand up for himself and his people because some Bomber fans now believe they can do something about the bigotry, and did it! Nicky Winmar helped begin that in the AFL community. I'd guess he'd be very satisfied that it has got so much better. Expressing hurt is one of the most courageous things you can do - it takes a lot of guts.
ciudadmarron
Guest
The old sticks and stones adage can be interpreted as copping it sweet. Why should anyone accept abuse? One part of the message is to not let the words get to you - to know that the person abusing you is wrong and so on - but it doesn't mean anyone has to accept what is said. And by ignoring you accept. You accept that it is OK for that kind of abuse to occur.
micka
Guest
Bingo +1 Sticks and stones Axle. Don't get all pouty just because people are questioning your worth without actually knowing you. It's not like they're hitting you or anything.
slane
Guest
Right. You are fine with racial abuse but don't dare say anything about anybody's parents. Because the two things are so dissimilar right? You would have to be one of the biggest flogs going around.
Samuel Gates
Roar Pro
I think it's important to remember that every club is always going to have a select group of supporters who are going to behave poorly from time to time. The key to having a quality crowd is the club has to set a good club culture and demonstrate what they want from their fans. This not only applies to AFL clubs but any local club who might carry a poor reputation (we all know a few of these). Essendon and Footscray should be applauded for their responsible and decisive action. They've set a good standard in regards to racism which hopefully their fans and other clubs can follow.
Old Bloke
Guest
Whats wrong with Clubs
Axle an the guru
Guest
Your entiteled to your opinion Tom
TomC
Roar Guru
Pack of sooks, eh? All you ever do is whinge. I've read your posts. You have nothing to contribute.
Ben
Guest
Axle, you are a massive bogan.
Old Bloke
Guest
Adam Goodes is a bloody good Australian. You me , we are all Australians.
Old Bloke
Guest
Adam Goodes is one of the finest players of his generation. This upsets a lot of supporters of opposing clubs who would love to have him in their side. Their utterances are not an attack of creed nor colour but simply a frustration that he is not playing for them and that their side is playing not that well ( like shit actually). I don't think the same person would racially abuse a player on their own side ( Richmond Supporters excluded).
Axle an the guru
Guest
Calling someone a name slane is not questioning someone's character,( i have never called Goodes a name)theres a big difference. Telling someone they have been brought up poorly is attacking there parents. You might be fine with you parents being attacked but I'm not,and as far as the sticks and and stones thing goes the teachers at school were the ones saying that to us kids. I may be critical of Goodes but i have not and would not attack his parents
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Yes but I would suggest that the players who booed and those who dobbed him in would not be of the same contingent of Bombers fans. I understand many (most) would not have booed but those who did should be ashamed. A portion of the Essendon fan club need to take a look at themselves however.
Slane
Guest
Funny how names will never hurt you and yet here you are getting all defensive and arcing up when people question your character. How can you dare criticise Goodes or anybody else for doing the same thing?
Shouts Chen
Guest
Racism continues on in Australia where a few people judge on their skin colour, country of origin and gender. That's why Australia is a multicultural country where we have Harmony Day. And harmony day is to tell people to stop the racism in Australia.
Axle an the guru
Guest
I presume you are calling me the keyboard idiot Ret. I'm not saying the victim has to take it, the victim didnt hear it did he? I have copped it and ive dealt with it multible ways, like i said erlier i dont condone racism,but how many of you have never said a bad comment about black,white,muslem,religeon or sexist in your lifetime,i bet not many of you. I wonder how many of you are saying this is wrong but have done the same thing somewhere along the line,but in your own mind you sit back and think thats ok because i didnt mean it that way. People say things in the heat of the moment that they dont always mean.
Axle an the guru
Guest
Some of these Essendon supporters are a funny lot Dalgety, i dont know what was said by the supporter in the heat of the moment while that person was full of pure emotion. But they are happy to see him kicked out of the ground and his membership torn up as punishment. But when it comes to there coach and there players getting punishments for drugs there all up in arms. What hypocrites some of them are.
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
Although the Essendon fans were the ones who dobbed the guy in weren't they?
Ret
Guest
Yet again some keyboard idiot seems to think the victim is to blame for not copping racism. Well done Essendon, and good luck to the Bulldogs in tracking down the other tool.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Clearly not. Pathetic really from the fans...