It’s been 41 years since Harry Williams became the first Indigenous Australian to represent the Socceroos. The Sydney-born defender replaced Jim Rooney with 18 minutes to go as Australia saw off Indonesia in a friendly in Jakarta ahead of the 1974 World Cup.
Williams travelled to West Germany and was a substitute as the Socceroos grabbed their first point at a World Cup – a 0-0 draw with Chile.
Since then, a number of Indigenous footballers kept the trail alight on the international stage: Kyah Simon, Lydia Williams, Travis Dodd, David Williams, Kasey Wehrman and Jade North (who became the first Indigenous player to captain the Socceroos).
We’ve come a long way as a society since 1974, but the ongoing saga surrounding another indigenous sportsman – Adam Goodes – over in the AFL has cast an unwanted throwback to a bygone (but far from gone) era of racial inequality.
Goodes – arguably one of Australia’s finest ever sportsmen – has been the eye of the racism storm since he was vilified by a schoolgirl back in 2013. It was a turning point that saw him become the face of an ugly fight, one that should have been made redundant by now.
The 2014 Australian of the Year wouldn’t have wanted to publicly shame that girl. But it was a necessary step to send a clear message that throwing words can be just as damaging as throwing stones.
The topic resurfaced at the weekend as Goodes’ teammate Lewis Jetta went into bat for him. The war dance celebration in the defeat to West Coast was a poignant reminder of the reality of those in a minority.
Jetta decided he’d had enough of Goodes being made a scapegoat for a fight he shouldn’t even be involved in.
According to Swans coach John Longmire, Jetta simply released a load of steam that has been brewing for some time:
“He has had enough of it and he is obviously pretty close to Goodesy and he celebrated the goal and that’s how he acted,” Longmire said.
Booing Adam Goodes doesn’t make you racist. And booing shouldn’t become a crime. It’s a tactic employed by most fans to get under the skin of their opponents. In fact, it aids most players, who see hatred from the other side as a sign they’re doing something right. To most, booing is nothing more than a bit of playful banter.
But while we can’t cast a shadow over all those who have booed Goodes, the overriding intention appears to carry a worryingly racist undertone.
To a majority of those ridiculing Goodes, fandom is being used as a veil for bigotry.
And the issue is far more prevalent in the world of football.
Earlier this month, former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong was sent off during a match in Russia after giving the bird to opposition fans who he says directed monkey chants at him.
Even more disgusting than the punishment was the pathetic response from his club, Spartak Moscow, who condemned the Ghanaian for not shrugging off the jibes. The old adage ‘an eye for an eye’ clearly doesn’t fly in Russia, though they’re inexplicably blind when it comes to facing racism.
The 2018 World Cup in Russia has racism as its key subplot and pressure is growing to patch up the country’s crippling ideology when it comes to diversity.
Racism strikes a chord closer to home as well. The FFA’s National Club Identity Policy is a blatant form of discrimination. If existing clubs wish to change their logo, or new clubs are formed, they must not ‘carry any ethnic, national, political, racial or religious connotations either in isolation or combination’.
Try as some might, Australia’s immigration days are not over. For years to come, there will be people from around the world seeking a new start in Australia or simply being too charmed by this great country to leave.
But, in football at least, we’ve simply shut up shop to any new cultural influences.
As Football Channel Asia’s Paul Williams brilliantly identified, the NCIP appears to be in direct violation of the Asian Football Confederation’s policy against discrimination of any kind.
This week, Australia’s multiculturalism will be broadcast on the national stage via the FFA Cup. The cameras will pan to a bloke eating souvlaki and there will be interviews in broken English with veteran servants of some of the non-A-League clubs.
It’s a celebration of everything that is good about football in Australia. There’s the Greeks at Oakleigh Cannons, Heidelberg United and South Melbourne; the Turkish at Hume City; the folks at Gungahlin United (nee Canberra Juventus) and the Brits who founded Balmain United.
So much good about the Australian game has been bred from multiculturalism, yet it’s something we’re scurrying to stop in its tracks.
The argument for the affirmative alludes to the cultural indifferences that hampered the NSL, but it’s a weak excuse.
The key to bridging the gap is not simply cutting off one side altogether, but in bringing the two sides closer. Is it not more beneficial to educate about the perils of racism?
If the events of the AFL at the weekend have taught us anything, it’s that we need to do more to promote multiculturalism rather than sweep it under the carpet, as the NCIP intends to do.
The way forward is embracing culture, not fearing it. Maybe then, the role of the minority will be reversed.
Perry Bridge
Guest
#Peter Cotton Goodes wasn't Australian of the Year yet at that time. He didn't realise the age of the girl who was seated with a scarf - not sure how much Goodes should've realised her age however he pointed her out (no doubt dismayed given it was indigenous round - surely for one week people could be nice??). Goodes had no role in how she was seemingly mistreated by security - that is a separate issue that was unfortunate. The narrative of some media then was highly selective of reporting this after the event. Which included Goodes' comments the next day - in not holding the girl to blame and feeling sorry for her - they spoke on the phone etc. And then, Goodes was anointed as the next Australian of the Year - which I felt was too soon given he was still playing and still is.
cm
Guest
frigging phones. :lol:
Peter Cotton
Guest
Just accessed this thread. Not enough time to read any way near all the posts, but the ones I have read fail to identify the issue. An "Australian of the Year" takes objection to a 13 year old girl's taunt (Goodes thought she was about 14), identifies her to security who, in their wisdom, escort her from the viewing area. She is reportedly interviewed by police, with no independent adult(s) present. Goode, in his wisdom, decided not to press charges. The charge would apparently have been: "she called me an ape!". This information has been gleaned from media reports, so we should make some allowance for inaccuracies. We can all draw our own conclusions. Mine is that Goode's detractors resent his political bullying. An "Australian of the Year" bullying a 13 year old schoolgirl! Yes, she called out a stupid comment. But hey! She is 13 years old! How many of you have listened to the conversations of 13 year old girls? Proliferated with inanities!
bryan
Guest
cm,you really should get treatment for that stutter! :) Don't you just hate it when the Roar loses your painstakingly thought out posting,so you re-write it,only to have it re-appear like a ghost,making you look silly.
Ian
Guest
can you read? a state footballer made inappropriate remarks and the FFA took swift and decisive action. none of which is happening in AFL with the disgusting racial remarks being played out by yourselves and others in denial. that's the point of the post. not that everyone should say Goodes should be deported. you seriously read into the comment that much to try and 'win'.
clipper
Guest
Fuss, you may have a point if the Swans weren't the most attended team in Sydney, so much so they have put another, albeit, not very successful team in Sydney, which has helped - with Footballs ever growing presence there, to make Sydney a multi code city.
Post hoc
Guest
Conchie You are on a football tab saying a football fan shouldn't talk about football? Wow you really have significant issues.
Post hoc
Guest
Archie Thomspon constantly takes on the crowd at Wanderers matches and wins. He often does it right in front of my bay, He comes some heckling and often has a chuckle and applauds the better ones, which earned him applause back. If that is not taking on the crowd and winning I don't know what is.
Post hoc
Guest
We might be taking a few clubs off you next year if the Sydney Hills Football association gets up and running.
conchie
Roar Rookie
Ho hum Here you are day after day, with your passive aggressive tactics talking about AFL football, but it recently backfired when you were caught out telling porkies, i am sure your sheep will forgive you, i am sure you accept fault for posting it as you claim. man you are the master of indirect expression of hostility What i do wonder is if you do it subconsciously or you have actually thought it through. Even your mates on 442 are sick of you and i quote .... " Man these articles are getting tiresome. Yes Midfielder - AFL is running scared, it can't compete, football will soon be number one blah blah blah. I look forward to your next article which shows football's dominance by googling the word "a league . I love football, I want to see it thrive in Australia. But when we have ALeague clubs literally collapsing before our eyes, our crowds and tv audiences are down etc, we look like insecure flogs with this sort of stuff. "
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
I saw that yesterday when I went to watch the LIVE online streaming of the FFA Cup. Amazing articles. It's taken a while for the AFL industry to understand things that some of us have been talking about for years.
Midfielder
Guest
I realise this is my fault ... on the AFL TAB on Fox ... the following article has been published... yes I accept fault for getting it published and all the comments it has received. BTW its huge equal to a double spread in a paper and such detail tis amazing... The head line ...""" Soccer’s successful FIFA video games are big business, here’s why the AFL just can’t compete"""" http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/soccers-successful-fifa-video-games-are-big-business-heres-why-the-afl-just-cant-compete/story-e6frf3e3-1227461911667
BigAl
Guest
Ha Ha ! - the subtlety of my post has gone way over your head . . . once again.
conchie
Roar Rookie
You are seriously stating that 17 AFL clubs are calling for Goodes to be deported ?. LOL at your complete and utter delusion. You now have the temerity to speak for around 800,000 AFL club members, yet you can't even speak properly for yourself.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Punter, how about you read my comment before jumping in to lecture me?
The artist formerly known as Punter
Guest
It doesn't matter whether you have heard of him or not, it's not right Fuss.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
I've never heard of Griffin McMaster until yesterday. I just checked his stats and apparently he played a total of 15 matches for Brisbane Roar between 2008-2010, so it's no wonder his name was alien to me. But, based on behaviour at Swans matches, Griffin McMaster's disgusting comments are exactly what the majority of fans from 17 AFL clubs are saying. Interestingly, McMaster's current team Heidelberg had to play last night its biggest match so far this year - an FFA Cup Ro32. As soon as Heidelberg became aware of McMaster's Tweets he was axed from the team, a few hours before kick-off. I'm proud of the way an NPL (Vic) team handled the situation. I wonder how this would have played out if it were a player from a State AFL league making disgusting Tweets about an Alegue player? Would they have been axed hours before a big match?
The artist formerly known as Punter
Guest
Mister Football, it's because I prefer football to the local product. It's purely a choice I prefer Bruce Springsteen to Johnny Farnham I prefer an Italian or Japanese meal to Steak & chips. I prefer Aussie climate to English climate I prefer the Aussie livestyle to the Chinese livestyle. I quite like Aussie cinema, but not so much Aussie winter sports. It's purely choice.
The artist formerly known as Punter
Guest
Yes Smell the fear he must be one of those who play football but follow the AFL. You wouldn't understand it, but this Goodes issue is not about AFL, it's about racism, that comes in all sports. I know that is difficult for you to understand.
bryan
Guest
Fuss,where is this Southern Australia? WA occupies ALL of the western third of the Continent, South Australia's Northern border is further North than that of NSW,& AR is very popular in the NT. So,that just leaves Vic & Tas as "Southern States",& QLD as a "Northern State",which does ,admittedly,extend a bit further North than WA,but not a lot.