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Banish all racists from the AFL. For life.

Andrew Silverman

by Andrew Silverman

07 Jun 05:40am

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Filed under: Afl, Football, Media, Racism, Society, Sport

82 comments

Memo to the AFL: ban these racist pigs for life. There you go, problem solved. Surely it can’t be that difficult.

Eddie McGuire demands a racist troublemaker be escorted off the ground.

This is a serious issue that is very close to my heart. As a victim of racial abuse over many years, I can’t hold my tongue any longer. I have also been in the unfortunate position of being abused while at the footy. My crime? Barracking for my team.

Just when we thought our governing body was getting a grip on these ugly and unintelligent slurs, a couple of ignorant imbeciles, one at an AFL game, the other at the VFL (not for the first time this year mind you) decided it might be a good idea to voice their racist views and sour what was otherwise a couple of great games.

Only six weeks ago, Buddy Franklin copped it in Launceston - it’s still rife in the SANFL, VFL and every other domestic competition at every level.

The target at Port Melbourne was 20-year-old Sudanese man Majak Daw. What a star this kid is going to be. He’s already making the game look easy. So how do we deal with him? Punish him. Abuse him. What a bloody disgrace.

For those watching the TV on Saturday night when the Pies thumped the Saints, they would have seen a furious Eddie McGuire blowing a gasket in the second quarter when an obnoxious St Kilda fan abused Andrew Krakouer. Not once, not twice but three times.

With big Ed to the rescue and with the help of some angry punters sitting next to this joker, he was identified and subsequently evicted. But what I would like to know is what the hell was he doing there in the first place?

Whatever happened to just going to the footy and enjoying the dazzling skills that the AFL’s indigenous players display every week? Every weekend racist dead beats grace us with their unwelcome and repulsive presence.

With complete disregard for all those around them, many of them our kids, they assault us and those we pay to admire, with their offensive and abhorrent abuse.

They actually think they’re comedians. That they are smart. Worse still, they see it as acceptable. The fact is however, that the issue stems from much further back. Clearly, when the parents of these wankers were giving lessons in what’s right and wrong, they somehow skipped the class that says to respect others and just be nice.

That’s right. You know who you are. The AFL has astonishingly deep pockets and a racial vilification policy which is the envy of all other world sporting bodies. Yet when it comes to stamping out the behaviour of some Neanderthals in the stands, it continues to battle. This season is only 11 weeks old yet we have already had several unsavoury incidents.

Well I have a solution and believe me, it’s not rocket science. Get rid of them. Banish them. Fine them too. Throw them out and take their memberships off them as they depart. While we’re at it, why not take a polaroid so we can recognize their ugly mugs next time they try and spoil our fun.

Ok so it may not rid us of every kill joy but it would be a good start.

Unfortunately, racism at the footy is as prevalent as ever. The problem is that if we don’t address it once and for all, some of our greatest players will simply move on, robbing us all of the opportunity to enjoy their innate skills.

So c’mon people, let’s champion respect and diversity. The result will benefit all of us and make our game safe and fun for all of us to enjoy.

Most commented

418Australia, you have nothing to fear but fear itself
353"Gifting", "journey" and other words we hate
311Thomson didn't answer the question everyone is asking
262Who murdered the Arts degree?
246A big day for Thomson, who thus far is guilty of nothing...
231Craig Thomson speaks. Meanwhile, in Australia...
230South Australia. It's the middle bottom bit.
224The most laughable, err, spoof since Einfeld

82 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • Gregg says:

      06:14am | 07/06/11

      Eddie is not unknown for the foot and mouth trick, probably wishing some of Sam’s other talents had rubbed off on him and whilst the comment referred to in the article could be considered associated with racism and does no one any good, the article by Andrew is of another matter.
      Why not address that?

    • Erick says:

      06:15am | 07/06/11

      Banish Eddie McGuire for life!

      Let’s have a big witch hunt and banish anyone who ever says anything we don’t like!

    • Erick says:

      06:40am | 07/06/11

      Gregg, I think the point is that “racism” is a very ill-defined and subjective term. It means different things to different people.

      Who gets to decide what is “racist”? What happens if arbitrary personal views of “racism” - often based on prejudice themselves - can be used to take away people’s rights? Big can of worms here.

    • Septimus says:

      06:42am | 07/06/11

      Gregg,

      Eddie Mcguire has the hide to insinuate someone else is racist and make a song and dance about it and have them thrown out.  This article specifically addressed that, that’s WHY it was posted.  This idiot demands other people subscribe to a standard of behaviour that he himself doesn’t.

    • Septimus says:

      06:51am | 07/06/11

      Tell me how the comment ‘kick him while he is down’ relates to race to start with?

      Funny how you are only racist in this country if you are white.

    • Leo says:

      08:06am | 07/06/11

      You seem to be missing the point Septimus. Eddie vilified an entire community, the St lKilda supporter verbally abused an individual (maybe not racially, as no one is saying what was actually said).

    • Seanr says:

      08:16am | 07/06/11

      Eddie McGuire = overexposed, hypocritical drama queen

    • Septimus says:

      09:39am | 07/06/11

      Leo,

      Are you suggesting it’s acceptable to vilify an entire community and not an individual?  Are you nuts?

    • Liam says:

      10:28am | 07/06/11

      All the St. Kilda supporter said was ‘kick him while he’s down’ hardly a racist comment, but because it was directed at andrew krackour its somehow racist. I agree to ban all racist supporters for life, but lets get serious on what actually defines racism

    • fml says:

      11:14am | 07/06/11

      So is this an example of Jocular Australian Humor?

    • Snake says:

      11:50am | 07/06/11

      Too right Septimus, that was quite funny. Now Eddie has taken a leaf out of the wanky dictator Demetriou’s book and gone all PC on us.

      As a society we expect footballers to be role models, to hold their own on the field, to cop any abuse the media dishes out, to go with umpiring decisions no matter how bad they are, and to put up with sledging. Sledging of any sort that is, until it becomes racist. Then, we, as a society, expect footballers to weep. We expect them to hurt and hurt badly. Why the mixes messages? They are not allowed to feel emotion when they get tackled onto their heads or when their team gets hard done by with an umpire, but you talk about their skin color and they should just break down and cry right?

      How fucking pathetic. If a big, muscled up footballer can take that sort of beating and not be able to realise words are just words then he doesn’t deserve to be playing professionally. If you can’t handle some jabs in the heat of the moment and it throws you off your game, then your opponent just outsmarted you. If I knew a few simple words would get the better of an opposing teams players I’d abuse the hell out of it too. Harden the fuck up the lot of you.

      Whatever happened to “sticks and stones…”. It seems we’ve all taken a leaf out of Demetriou’s softcock bible. And to think this used to be a manly sport.

    • Liam says:

      12:17pm | 07/06/11

      Liam - firstly, good name. Secondly, that’s not all the St Kilda supporter said. That was reportedly the third time he’d said something, and “kick him while he’s down” is probably only an excerpt of that third tirade. Eddie might have some foot-in-mouth issues himself, but good on him for standing up and telling this di**head to pull his head in. Andrew Krakouer is a good man

    • Liam says:

      12:37pm | 07/06/11

      @Liam - Excellent name
      Eddy even said in an interview that he didn’t hear anything racist, he just didn’t like the guys tone.
      And as much as I dislike the man, i’m not gonna hate on him for his land of the falafel joke. It was tongue in cheek at best, and is just another case of political correctness gone mad.
      But I do think he has selective hearing. Id love for him to get out of the members stand and go sit in the collingwood cheer squad(or any cheer squad for that matter) and listen to the likes of joffa and his ilk for a match. Spectator abuse has always been a part of any major sport, and as long as race stays out of it, I don’t see a problem with it

    • Liam says:

      01:26pm | 07/06/11

      Ok i didn’t know Eddie had said that. I can still understand why he’d get up and tell that bloke to neck up though. And agreed, I hope he’d do the same if it was a Pies supporter getting stuck into James Gwilt. See all you people with lacklustre names? - THAT’S HOW YOU DEBATE

    • Macon Paine says:

      02:21pm | 07/06/11

      Good point septimus, McGuire is a leading figure of the AFL and one of it’s most recognisable supporters, especially to those not in the AFL states.

      Racism in the AFL, is in my experience, nearly pandemic.

      I have been to dozens of afl games (Swans) over the last 10 years and I can recall numerous incidences of some sort of despicable and degrading racial abuse being levelled at either a player or a spectator. Abuse that usually involves the colour of ones skin and the human reproductive organs.
      I’ve also heard spectators being labelled as “curry munchers”, “ching chong chinaman”, and recently Eddie’s infamous “falafal eaters” (with the last hurled for sitting in the wrong seat!)
      By the same token I’ve also been to dozens of League (Wests Tigers, Origin and Tests) matches in that time period and I cannot recall one instance of hearing racial abuse, not one (and I don’t drink so no smart ass comments about me being off my face so I wouldn’t remember please). It probably happens at NRL games but Im yet to hear it.

      A problem for the AFL is that is simply doesn’t appear to have the mix of players that the NRL currently does and has had for decades. The NRL has players from New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, people of Middle Eastern descent etc. (Granted the AFL does have a proud history of Indigenous participation but so does the NRL.)
      Another problem could be that the game has traditionally been played and supported by (overwhelmingly) white angle saxons from the southern states. Perhaps some of them feel a little threatened when they look around these days and see not that everyone at the game is anglo saxon.

      The AFL needs to really step up it’s efforts in this area but I think for the foreseable future things will remain as they are because the AFL has no international reach, its a dead duck internationally really. Couple this with the attitide of leading AFL figures such as McGuire in which he displays probably a large chunk of the AFL worlds contempt for entire segments of the community it’s easy to see why the AFL seems to have a serious problem in this area.

      Hey if all else fails they could just call it the Anglo Football League.

    • Jack Thomas says:

      02:36pm | 07/06/11

      Errr..

      The comments were not racist.

      Eddy McGuire finally admitted to that. Point to somewhere, anywhere, that says they were racist. Nevertheless, he let the story run and run on the basis that…it might have been.

      And there was no swearing either…None.

      It was in the MCC members, but as a result of McGuire misusing his power the ‘barracker’ is now being investigated and possibly unfairly targetted.

      Just like so many other yuppies, who suddenly become so caring once they buy their house in Toorak, send their kids to melbourne Grammar, etc. McGuire is one of a long line of complete mindless tossers.

      We have enough middle class self loathing types on the ABC without this muppet and his cheer squad making things up.

      Stop looking at ink blots and yelling “I see a racist!”

      Meanwhile, McGuire’s own fans were regularly heard during the game abusing a certain opposition player as a “rapist”.

      If anything, McGuire should be pilloried and held to account for misusing his position, his job as a journo, and acknowledged media power.

      Well?

    • Jack Thomas says:

      02:45pm | 07/06/11

      @Liam

      How do you judge a good man?

      Surely not someone who cowardly, and without provocation, violently assaults someone?

      Someone who the judge saw fit to give 32 month sentence to?

      Someone, who with his brother sitting on the victim, “rained down blows that Mr Martin, who had a kidney condition, had a seizure after being taken to hospital and had to be put on dialysis in the intensive care unit”?

      http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/football-star-in-jail-over-attack/story-e6frg6pf-1111117065035

      Still, he probably looks ok alongside a team mate who refused to tell the police about the spent a night driving around with a drug affected Hells Angel who then went on to kill an innocent bystander and shot another?

      The high horse that McGuire sits on is so high he can’t see anything anymore…neither can you.

    • MichaelM says:

      03:54pm | 07/06/11

      Erick, I actually understand what you are getting at. Broad and ill-defined attributes are tough to enforce, and a matter of subjectivity.

      I would say that a player can be banned, as the author suggests, by making a comment which is audible to the point where a reasonable person of sound hearing within 5-6 rows at the ground, saying what can be defined as abuse and/or a threat, with a distictive feature of racially derisive overtones thereof. How to prove it is quite another thing altogether.

    • Liam says:

      05:55pm | 07/06/11

      @ Jack Thomas - You link me to that story from The Australian and then say the assault was “cowardly, and without provocation”?

      Firstly - Hands down, my most hated team in the AFL is Collingwood, so there’s no high horse involved.

      Secondly - Couldn’t agree more with you about Didak. The way that blew over is the most shameful incident i’ve seen in the AFL .

      Finally - Krakouer’s fight with ‘the victim’ was the climax of a family feud. He had reason to want to wipe the smile of that guy’s face - any loving brother and son would want to do the same. (Ignoring the fact that he had previously king-hit Krakouer). Granted, violence is not the way to resolve disputes, and it was extremely unfortunate that the chap had a seizure. But please note that Andrew was courteous enough to ask ‘the victim’ him if he wanted to settle things, to which he obliged.

      I judge a man by his words and actions, and from my time with Andrew in Perth (he spent the last two years playing with Swan Districts) I judge him as a good man. He is not a violent, irresponsible or intolerant man, although he has grown up knowing discrimination and prejudice. He has done his time and learned his lesson, but the second paragraph of any story about him will always be “Krakouer, who was jailed for serious assault.” He is someone who all of the young players at Swan Districts looked up to - for his work ethic, professionalism, humility and kindness. From speaking with Andrew and speaking with people that he influenced, I judge him as a good man.

    • Septimus says:

      06:42pm | 07/06/11

      @Liam

      and he’s a criminal…

      and fighting two against one…makes you a coward

    • acotrel says:

      07:56pm | 07/06/11

      The funniest thing I ever saw on TV was when Bert Newton called Cassius Clay ‘boy’. Have ever seen instant death looking at somebody?

    • Jack Thomas says:

      02:11pm | 08/06/11

      @ Liam

      Is there something else you’re not telling us about your relationship (as you state there is one) with Andrew Krakouer?
      He is a footballer who violently assualted someone.

      That is the simple fact.

      Calculating too, as by your accounts he acted with almost medieval malice by coldly attacking him.

      Since when did a family feud justify nearly killing someone?

      The fact that this story and Eddie McGuire tried to link a meaningless incident with racism shows how stupid everyone involved is. Or maybe, just so very keen to defend a trendy cause regardless of the facts?

      Show me an ink blot and I don’t see a racist.

      But show me Andrew Krakouer, and I see a violent criminal who was sentenced to 32 months jail.

    • Gregg says:

      06:25am | 07/06/11

      I totally agree Andrew that all sport would be far better off without any racist or other type of abusive barracking and whilst there may be some difficulty in identifying the culprit of an occasional outburst, the type of people making the outbursts are likely to have the nature for them not to be occasional.

      Eddie carries a position and no doubt could have plenty of people of authority in the vicinity who will take some notice of what is being said but it should also be easy enough if the legal grounds allow to have all security people and ushers instructed to follow-up on complaints from anyone and observe for a while to identify culprits.
      I suspect there will be few if any open minded sport followers who would not welcome such a move.

      Reply

    • S.L says:

      06:30am | 07/06/11

      One thing Andrew is racist insults from the “knuckedraggers” in the crowd are their last resort.
      If the subject of their taunts is having a field day at the expense of their beloved team they quickly run out of things to yell. So back to the tried and true!
      Disgusting and uncalled for? Sure! But it will never been totally eradicated from any form of sport.
      Now I’ve said that it can be a fine line. As I’m no scholar on AFL I’ll use NRL players as an example. A white anglo just has to look sideways at Tumana Tahu, Greg Inglis or Anthony Mundine and they shout racism from the rooftops!
      Some can be just a little too precious…............

      Reply

    • Rick says:

      09:31am | 07/06/11

      Sorry SL, but the NRL players you mentioned took exception to someone calling Inglis a “Black c…”. Anthony Mundine is a character, but certainly not “a little too precious” about his race.

      Careful there, your prejudices are showing…

    • S.L says:

      11:48am | 07/06/11

      Rick you are being too precious youself there old Pal!

    • Snake says:

      12:50pm | 07/06/11

      Nice list of athletes you two came up with.

      Mundine is the sort of guy that gets under everyone’s skin. He flaps his lip 24/7 then pulls the indigenous card if anyone says anything back to him. If he acts like a hero and can’t take a few words then he should hang his gloves up and leave the sport to the truly tough.

      You can object to the name calling and the racism all you like but it cannot be eradicated until those that are targetted by it learn to laugh at it.

      Classic example, the wogs of Australia. Immigrants from the late 50s up until the early 80s. The term “wog” was used from white australians to denote almost anyone who arrived at those times (strictly speaking its accurate for Greeks and Italians). “Those f*cken wogs are taking our jobs” they would say. “F*cken wog, speak english!” they would taunt. While I’m sure it put a fire in the belly of those that were targetted, there was no breaking down in tears I assure you. The wogs worked harder and harder and chiselled their place in society. Now wog is used as a term of endearment almost and you would struggle to find a Greek or Italian that is uncomfortable with the term. In fact, many of them identify with it. They managed to look past the word, as just a word and proved to everyone it doesn’t really matter what you say.

      Find me an Aborigine who’s fine with being called a boong or a black man who doesn’t care if someone refers to him as a nigger. You can’t. (Hell you can’t find a Jew that responds favourably to being called a Jew these days. ZOMG holocaust!) Because these groups still haven’t looked past the words. They hold onto the hate and let it fuel their free pass into whatever comes up for them.

      The day there is a box on a government related form that says “Are you a wog?” I might begin to feel some sympathy to these “victims” of racism. Learn to look past the damn words. When you let these things affect your life/game you are letting the racists win.

    • MichaelM says:

      03:47pm | 07/06/11

      So just to clarify - you see nothing wrong with calling Greg Inglis a “black c***”? You think Greg should just cop it?

    • Snake says:

      10:14am | 08/06/11

      @MichaelM: Sure it’s “wrong”. But so is telling the opposing player you “did his missus” to see if you can throw him off his game. It isn’t something you’d say over dinner with your parents in the room but in the heat of the game who cares? If you get “upset” by what the other guy says, perhaps you should take up ballet. No maybe not… Even they know how to cop a few insults and not run off crying.

    • Gareth says:

      07:07am | 07/06/11

      What Eddie did had zero to do with racism. Some bloke in he crowd said to crakeour ‘kick him while he’s down why don’t you’. That’s the end of the story. Krakeour has done time and is black so I suppose you can draw your own conclusions, however I think that Eddie and subsequently the media have over reacted massively.

      Also it shouldn’t be up to to the readers to point these things out, you journalists should just properly research stories before posting them.

      Reply

    • acotrel says:

      08:03am | 07/06/11

      Great game football !  We can expose our ugly side with impunity?

    • Old Man Emu says:

      12:43pm | 07/06/11

      You’re spot on, Gareth. This was not a racist issue. When I first heard about it, I thought why would you go race against Andrew Krakouer when you can rightly use the jailbird ammo that’s sitting there. Turns out Eddie’s beratee was doing the right thing and having a go at Krakouer’s jail life. I know the lefties willing to point fingers at anyone as racist because they love the prison gangs (most of them being Labor voters), but I see that as fair game. Criminals get off too lightly and then get protected from hurting their feelings later. Screw that.

    • Jack Thomas says:

      04:04pm | 07/06/11

      Eddy needs to attend his sons’ football games at Melbourne Grammar more.

      I played against them once when a Grammar Dad ran onto the field and punched my team mate (a 16 year old ‘High’ school kid). No assualt charges, the Grammar Dad just wasn’t asked back…

      Now that needed some intervention, not a mouthy non-racist, non-swearing person who Eddy didn’t like.

      According to the report on Krakoueur’s crime (for the vicious assault he was sentenced to 32 months jail for) he kicked the victim while they were down on the ground…

      Poor Eddie still can’t see the irony when it smacks him in his red face.

      Hypocrisy isn’t even what McGuire practices. It’s something far worse.

      I’m not holding my breath to expect anyone to hold McGuire to account though, just more “racist!” cries from the peanuts calling themselves journo’s in this country.

    • Don says:

      07:31am | 07/06/11

      Define “rife”, because a couple of neanderthals spouting abuse in three or four incidents across three different states over one or two years doesn’t fit my understanding of the term. That’s probably a ratio of non-racists to racists of at least 5,000,000 to 1. Your sensationalist language is misleading, inflammatory and contributes to the problem by making minorities feel paranoid and unwanted. You’re helping the racists win by exaggerating racism.

      I highly doubt the McGuire incident was a case of racism, more likely it was just abuse that McGuire is attempting to portray as racism for political mileage. Pity there has been no investigative effort expended in learning the truth about that situation.

      Reply

    • Huey says:

      09:59am | 07/06/11

      @ Don, I agree and I did see an interview with Eddie where he stated the abuse was NOT racial but referring to something else in his private life.

    • KH says:

      07:56am | 07/06/11

      I vote we just ban the game for life.  Its rubbish anyway…...........

      Reply

    • Norm says:

      08:25pm | 07/06/11

      Hell Yeah in NSW at least!

    • Anthony of WA says:

      08:19am | 07/06/11

      Yes, lets start with Eddie

      Reply

    • NSW says:

      08:46am | 07/06/11

      KH - Let me guess….you are a thugby league follower? Thugby league is the game of the lowest common denominator.

      Reply

    • Steve M says:

      09:45am | 07/06/11

      aww, whats the matter NSW, sad your joke of a sport is limited to a few Australian states? Or is it that you have realised what a poor game it is? Maybe you are just sick and tired of watching these prima donnas dancing around their handbags in nightclubs?

    • Tom says:

      08:54am | 07/06/11

      If we ban all AFL (and NRL) players who have made racist comments, we wouldn’t have enough blokes to fill out the teams. Let’s face it, Australia is a racist country, simply because we never admit that we are racist. The only way to get rid of racism is by admitting you have been, or are, a practising racist, even if you don’t think you are. I admitted it years ago, and have worked ever since to eradicate it in my daily life. But it’s still there from time to time.

      Reply

    • Michael says:

      09:20am | 07/06/11

      The fact that people of so many other races are killing themselves to get here would suggest that Australia is not a racist country at all but is becomming filled with racist people as we speak whether by breeding our own home grown racists or by not expecting integration of all arrivals into wider mainstream society thus creating pockets of ethnicity throughout the suburbs.

      If people were less inclined to need to belong to a larger group there wouldn’t be racism at all, just like minded individuals.

    • fml says:

      11:18am | 07/06/11

      Michael,

      Yep, join us, become like us, or else we will call you racist.

    • Markus says:

      02:03pm | 07/06/11

      “Yep, join us, become like us, or else we will call you racist”.
      Cheers for clarifying the mindset of the do-gooder lefty raspberry

    • Rowdy says:

      09:12am | 07/06/11

      “Whatever happened to just going to the footy and enjoying the dazzling skills that the AFL’s indigenous players display every week?”

      Why do only the indigenous players have dazzling skill? Shouldn’t we be going to the footy and enjoying the dazzling skills that the AFL’s players display every week?

      And what about the Indigenous players only team? Is that not a form of racism in the selection criteria?

      Surely these racist neanderthals in the story above should be removed from all areas of sport, from playing to supporting, but let’s not swing the pendulum all the way to the other side.

      Just sayin’....

      Reply

    • Nick says:

      09:14am | 07/06/11

      Yeah Andrew, i’m sure you’ve been racially abused endlessely. As somebody who looks 99% white if i ever saw one, i’m sure you are tormented endlessely everyday by the public that just HATES everybody who isn’t a pure blood caucasian.

      You need to get over yourself. We live in a world where to even mention the words ‘black’ around somebody who’s had a black ancestor 200 years ago is to be racist. Whilst anybody who isn’t white can sit around all day being as racist as they like to whites, and whites can’t defend themselves without being charged with a hate crime.

      You’re such a piece of garbage. Blaming a system for ‘oppressing’ you when it gives you a leg up. Why can’t white Australians access jobs reserved for Aboriginals? If there were any jobs reserved for white people, there would be riots and people getting fired left right & center because of racism.

      The double standards are appalling and all this article goes to show is that you have one hell of a victim complex.

      Reply

    • Steve says:

      10:26am | 07/06/11

      Your deductive powers are amazing… except that Andrew’s picture is in black and white. You can’t tell whether he’s white, brown, yellow, bright purple, or some shade in between.

      Andrew isn’t the problem here - that would be you.

    • Mr Wendel says:

      12:13pm | 07/06/11

      The name Silverman is European in origin, primarily German. Don’t need to be Einstein to deduce that as to part of Andrew’s background…

      Names are often more telling than pictures.

    • Peter Hardwood says:

      09:33am | 07/06/11

      Racism whether it’s with regard to sports players or asylum seekers is a reflection of right wing conservatism taking hold in Australia.

      Reply

    • TY says:

      12:14pm | 07/06/11

      Umm… sure…

      How’s your wife? smile

    • Davo from St Kilda says:

      09:42am | 07/06/11

      NRL is the most unfriendly sport in the country. How many families with children attend the game? Practically none. How many women are fans? Hardly any. The only people who follow the game are bogans drinking jim beam cans. With cheerleaders alienating sensible people from supporting the so-called sport, it’s no wonder that thugby is regarded as a third-class game by the bulk of Australians…

      Reply

    • Brian B says:

      10:24am | 07/06/11

      Your post adds nothing to the debate, Davo.

      In fact, it shows you up as a bigot. Happy to say I can watch AFL, NRL, Super Rugby or Soccer and enjoy them all, (without racism)

    • Steve M says:

      10:45am | 07/06/11

      “Davo”, you are obviously a cultured and refined individual. After all, anyone whose name ends in an “o” is clearly a person of taste and breeding (inbreeding perhaps) So what led you to want to watch a bunch of sheilas pulling each others hair and slapping each other, otherwise known as AFL?

    • fairsfair says:

      09:55am | 07/06/11

      Far out, it is part of life. Deal with it.

      I got called a “white b*tch” on my way into work this morning in amonst a shower of c words. No its not OK, but what am I going to do to stop it? Start a fight with a group of aboriginal girls or stand in front of them and say “now, now ladies, that was really uncalled for I was simply just trying to get to the doorway of my office building and it is not my concern that you have reacted poorly to my “excuse me girls” while you loiter around McDonalds drunk and eating 50c cones at 7:30am”.

      I didn’t do either, I ignored them and got into the lift.

      The only way to beat racism in the form of baseless and meaningless jibes is to ignore it. These idiots need to know that nobody is listening to them and nobody cares of their pathetic, narrow minded views. They only do it to get a response. That guy would be super stoked that Eddie Macguire acknowledged his existance and we are still talking about him now.

      If Majak Daw was not being allowed to play due to his race, yes I would think it appauling and I’d rush to his defence, but in day to day life we are surrounded by things we don’t want to hear. Be it about our race, our appearance, something we are doing. They are just words. Get the hell over it and stop being so precious.

      Reply

    • Wynston Cruso says:

      02:26pm | 07/06/11

      But fairs, how could those girls have been racist if they were aboriginal?

    • John says:

      05:09pm | 07/06/11

      Spoken like a true white man.

    • fairsfair says:

      06:55pm | 07/06/11

      care to elaborate on that John?

    • Tag says:

      10:23am | 07/06/11

      “As a victim of racial abuse…”.  Just curious, what is that all about?  I am of asian descent, have had a few racial slurs aimed my way on occasion, but certainly wouldn’t call myself a “victim of racial abuse”.  That’s a big, big label to wear.  I don’t like to think of myself as a “victim”, especially considering i’ve probably directed some of the abuse back at others on occasion.  What goes around, comes around, you know.  We’re all victims and we’re all perpetrators, at times.  Looking at your picture, you look totally the same as about 99% of people.  Sounds suspiciously like you like to think you’re a “victim” as it makes you feel good.  But I could be wrong.  Enlighten me.

      Reply

    • Tim the Toolman says:

      10:51am | 07/06/11

      How ridiculous.  Wake me when we actually have something to discuss, instead of what some bogan yelled on the weekend.  What a sad, bored and pathetic society we are becoming.

      Reply

    • Kate says:

      11:37am | 07/06/11

      It’s a bit unfortunate that the Krakouer and Daw incidents got mixed up together.

      What was said to Majak Daw on the weekend was, unmistakeably, racist abuse. It was disgusting, Daw did nothing to deserve it and it’s absolutely right that the man involved gets banned from the footy. If you really feel the need to put someone off their game, there are plenty of insults available - “get a kick”, “nice haircut dork” etc - that don’t call to attention things the player has no control over, such as their race. I’ve met Majak, he’s a lovely man, quite shy and I feel sorry that he has been subjected to this revolting treatment.

      I’m not convinced that what was said about Krakouer was so horrible though. Eddie McGuire has confirmed that, while Krakouer is Aboriginal, the comments were not racially motivated. The comments referred to the extremely TRUE fact that Krakouer has been charged with, and found guilty of, a serious case of assault. While it’s not the nicest thing to say about someone, I’d much rather fans had a go at players for something they actually have done and are guilty of, rather than something out of their control. Like calling Judd an eye gouger, Joel Selwood a ducker, Lindsay Thomas a free-kick stager etc etc.

      Reply

    • Mathias says:

      01:33pm | 07/06/11

      hey hey hey… leave Juddy out of this!

    • Kate says:

      02:18pm | 07/06/11

      In all fairness, I had a go at my own team too. LT, I love you when your kicking is accurate but for the love of God, STOP DIVING. It’s not the North Melbourne way.

    • GB says:

      12:00pm | 07/06/11

      Has Eddie McGuire ever spent any time among his own mob of ferals? Ever sat next to a Collingwood supporter when someone like Leon Davis or Harry O’Brien is having a bad game?

      Reply

    • stephen says:

      07:52pm | 07/06/11

      Ferals ?
      They’re all bloody ferals, which is why I go there just to meanderthal amongst the crowd, (which, one day, I’d like to video-tape and sell it on the ‘blue’ market ) and scoff pies and beer and sometimes watch a game, except the crap last week between Brissy Lions and Swannies which the girls from our netball squad might like to watch and get some foorwork tips from.
      A joke.

    • Harquebus says:

      12:18pm | 07/06/11

      I think some people need to toughen up.

      Reply

    • emel says:

      12:29pm | 07/06/11

      How disapointing this thread mostly is.
      Those people who suggest that others should wear offensive abuse based on race or other physlcal appearance must not have experienced it personally or had it hulrled at their family.
      It is not a matter of ‘hardening up’ whatever that means.
      Racial abuse is a blight on society and exists only because these morons pass their dim witted views onto each new generation.
      I applaude the sentiment of this article and agree wholeheartedly with the life ban approach which will shut these idiots up for good.
      It is not about Eddy’s reaction to his own team. Suggesting it is is missing the point entirely.

      Reply

    • Dazeddazza says:

      02:58pm | 07/06/11

      So Emel, what would you suggest to the lady in a previous comment who was confronted by a group of aboriginal girls calling her a white bitch!!!  She toughed it out, which is contrary to your thoughts.  Just wondering!!!

    • James III says:

      02:03pm | 07/06/11

      “it’s still rife in the SANFL”.  Total BS.

      How about we banish fun NAZI’s like Eddie?  The bullfrog throated twit could not hack some stock standard footy banter about one of his boys.

      Nanny state at the footy now?  WTF next?

      Reply

    • edward III says:

      04:57pm | 07/06/11

      Hammers!

      I’m hearing you.  What can we expect when we are governed by female socialists?

      Sour nannies telling us all how to live.  Its almost revolution time.

    • Matt says:

      02:53pm | 07/06/11

      Would Aboriginals be subject to these bannings, fines and public humiliations too?

      Or just Caucasians?

      Reply

    • bikinis on top says:

      04:36pm | 07/06/11

      banish all Australian Rules Supporters, all Australian Rules TV telecasts, AFL Players and Aussie Rules Officials forever from Sydney Australia and Australia. Ban all Melbourne people from Sydney!

      Reply

    • sam says:

      04:57pm | 07/06/11

      Completely agree that racism and comments with racist undertones should mean life bans to all sporting games, but also agree with a lot of the comments here about Eddie.
      He said that ‘he couldn’t remember what the first comment was’...HA! What a load of garbage. If it was so defamatory, it should have stuck in his head. Futher, the second ‘kick him when he is down’ is hardly racist. This chump could have a personal issue with Krakouer; it could be because of his criminal history or he just doesnt like him as a player (i don’t like Milne for instance), not racially based. Far more evidence is needed for me to give credibility to Eddie Macguire’s dialogue.
      The abuser of Daw: throw him in jail.

      Reply

    • BK says:

      05:04pm | 07/06/11

      It’s easy to be hardline on racism if you are the one who gets to define racism. People need to accept that racism is a contested concept. Sure, we can accept that some opinions offend some people, but everyone has a few opinions that offend someone. Why should some people have the power to impose their views onto others?

      Reply

    • Phill says:

      05:18pm | 07/06/11

      I honestly fail to understand how being called a black prick is worse then being a useless prick.  I would rather be a different race then useless.  Why single out racism?

      Reply

    • Geoff - Brisbane says:

      05:43pm | 07/06/11

      Andrew, is this a ban for anyone who says something racist or just whites? Going to ban Aboriginals who say White C**t?

      I’m willing to bet you wont

      Reply

    • Andrew Bolt says:

      06:23pm | 07/06/11

      I thought this article was a piss-take. But apparently I was mistaken. I didn’t realise AFL supporters had become such a precious bunch of princesses.

      Reply

    • Norm says:

      08:37pm | 07/06/11

      In NSW we call it GayFL or that Gaycist?? lol

      Reply

    • Septimus says:

      04:51am | 08/06/11

      Okay who gave Norm the keyboard?  We told you he’s not allowed to write.  Good to see you walk upright though Norm!

    • jim morris says:

      12:43am | 08/06/11

      The only thing this guy hates more than racism are whiteys.
      When are we going to wake up and let people say whatever they want. At least then you know what people are really thinking. This Gillard era is the direct result of too many years of whinging idiots being taken seriously.

      Reply

    • Frank says:

      09:52pm | 12/06/11

      I can picture all you racists and xenophobes right now, squirming in your seats,writhing about like you,ve got worms in a state of hysterical agitation. Racism is clearly defined,there’s no debate. Racism is endemic in Australian culture and has been exploited by cynical politicians.People instantly deny it but in the same breath inexplicably confirm they are.I know it defies belief but there are all these people on the planet that actually do get on regardless of background,skincolour or what have you.Crazy hey!

      Reply
 
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