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Essendon, Bulldogs embroiled in racial vilification shame
Callum Twomey
May 20, 2014 12:39 PM
- Essendon fan's membership cancelled after vilifying Adam Goodes
- Bulldogs fail to identify fan who vilified Neville Jetta
- Goodes, Jetta thank clubs for swift action
- AFL says action highlights zero tolerance from other fans
AN ESSENDON member has had his membership cancelled after racially vilifying Sydney Swan Adam Goodes on Friday night, and the Western Bulldogs have also had to deal with a supporter vilifying an indigenous player.
Essendon started its investigation into the incident after members reported the abuse to Etihad Stadium management during the Bombers' 50-point loss.
Victoria Police ejected the spectator from the stadium and the club on Tuesday confirmed it had terminated the supporter's membership.
Goodes has thanked Essendon for its handling of the matter.
"While it is disappointing that these incidents still arise, there is a positive to come out of this, and that is the willingness of people in the crowd, regardless of the colours of their scarf and jumper, to draw a line in the sand and say that this is not acceptable," he said.
"While there still work to be done, to have Essendon members alert stadium security to the incident is a great indication that people in the football community will not tolerate racial vilification."
Meanwhile the Bulldogs have confirmed that "a person wearing a Bulldogs jumper" had racially abused Melbourne's Neville Jetta during the match on May 12.
President Peter Gordon said, "We were told that the abuse was reported at the time and that the perpetrator was monitored but due to an error he was not ejected by the security company.
"Subsequent efforts by the staff of the MCC to identify this person by CCTV footage, and by review of the ticketing records, have not so far proved successful.
"Despite those attempts being unsuccessful we remain entirely satisfied that the racial abuse occurred and that unfortunately it came from one of our own Bulldogs supporters."
He apologised on behalf of the club to Jetta and his family. Jetta responded a short time later in a statement issued by Melbourne, thanking the Bulldogs for the "respect and support" they showed in dealing with the incident.
In a statement on the Goodes' vilification, Bombers chief operating officer Xavier Campbell said, "On behalf of the entire Essendon Football Club, I want to publicly apologise to Adam Goodes for this extremely disappointing incident.
"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."
Campbell said the member had expressed "deep remorse" and would only be considered for a membership again after undertaking a racial vilification education program.
"I commend our supporters for taking a stand and having the courage to report this matter to the appropriate authorities. If you're going to behave in this manner we don't want you attending our games," he said.
Goodes was the subject of a racist taunt last year from a teenage Collingwood supporter, which was then followed by Magpies president Eddie McGuire's 'King Kong' comments.
The champion Swan was named Australian of the Year for 2013 for his leadership and fight against racism on the sporting field and within society.
The AFL said the incidents were "extremely disappointing, but also highlighted the zero tolerance from other fans and the AFL community towards such behaviour".
AFL general manager football operations, Mark Evans, said the strong response from supporters who reported the comments and the subsequent actions of the clubs demonstrated that vilification and anti-social behaviour had no place in Australian football.
Gordon's statement added, "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.
"The fact that racist abuse is ignorant, cruel, unfair and unlawful, ought to be enough to see it consigned to history. But for those who despite all of these things continue to engage in it, know that we as a club we will not by silence, be complicit in your anonymous abuse. We will pursue and rigorously investigate any matter which comes to our attention."
Jetta's statement in response said: "I am disappointed for my family and friends to be subjected to these types of remarks and it's completely unacceptable that these sorts of comments still exist in our society today," he said.
"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 (the AFL) have done a terrific job in educating society that racial vilification is unacceptable.
"This is an opportunity to educate society and just because I didn’t hear the remark first hand, this doesn't mean that it is any less offensive or hurtful.
"I want to use this incident to continually educate society that comments of this nature are highly offensive and the hurt it can have on others.
"Finally, I want to thank the Western Bulldogs Football Club for the way in which they have handled this situation and the respect and support they have shown in dealing with this matter."
AFL football operations boss Mark Evans said racism would not be tolerated.
"I think we have to recognise that this genuinely hurts people. Even if they don't hear it, when they hear about the event later on it hurts them to think that this can still happen," Evans told AFL.com.au.
"But it's such a minority in our crowds now. We are very proud of the way our game responds to these sorts of things.
"I hope it reduces to zero. But you can guarantee that when it does occur, that our clubs and the AFL will act.
"The most important in all of this is that there's no place for vilification at an AFL match. I think we're very proud of the way our clubs have handled this, especially that they've acted so swiftly.
"And I would hope there are some people who are embarrassed by their actions, and they understand what they've done, and they make a pledge to make themselves better from this.
"I know that we're slowly winning the battle, and what we can be really proud of is that there's almost this self-regulation in crowds now.
"So I encourage people to make sure they text the anti-social behaviour hotline and we'll get support there as soon as we can."
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