Following an extensive investigation, Essendon Football Club has terminated the membership of a supporter involved in a racial vilification incident during the Essendon v Sydney match on Friday night at Etihad Stadium.
The Club has confirmed the comments were directed at Sydney Swans player Adam Goodes.
Essendon chief operating officer Xavier Campbell said the Club would not tolerate racial vilification in any form.
“Racial vilification is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated,†Campbell said
“As a Club, we do not accept appalling behavior of this nature - No matter your race, religion or gender, football is a game of inclusion.â€
“It is extremely disappointing incidents of this nature are still occurring.â€
Essendon members reported the incident to stadium management during the game and as a result Victoria Police ejected the member from the stadium.
“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.â€
“The member in question has expressed his deep remorse for the incident and accepted full responsibility for his actions.â€
“His membership has been terminated and his reapplication for membership will only be considered after he has undertaken a racial vilification education program.â€
The Club has contacted the Sydney Swans and Adam Goodes to offer its sincere apologies about the incident. Adam Goodes was not aware of the incident until after the game.
"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.â€
“As a Club, we will now work even harder to educate our members and supporters about racial vilification and cultural
Saw this in the herald sun before. Top work to the suporters who stood up and made it clear this is simply not on. I dont know if i am being harsh but i would make it alot harder for that member to even get a membership back. Dont get me wrong a racial vilification education program is good. But i would be making it harder than that to get a membership back.
I'm actually trying hard to figure out why an Essendon supporter would racially vilify anyone. We've had such a presence amongst the indigenous community since the 80s and have had and still have great indigenous players in our team. Lifetime ban for mine.
I'm actually trying hard to figure out why an Essendon supporter would racially vilify anyone. We've had such a presence amongst the indigenous community since the 80s and have had and still have great indigenous players in our team. Lifetime ban for mine.
Because it isn't about the club, it is about ignorance.
I was the one who reported this guy to police, and it was amazing to see so many people around him give it back and let him know it's not on. I tweeted at the club on the day to see if they'd revoke his membership, and it's great to see they've done the right thing straight away. Good on all involved and thank you EFC.
I'm actually trying hard to figure out why an Essendon supporter would racially vilify anyone. We've had such a presence amongst the indigenous community since the 80s and have had and still have great indigenous players in our team. Lifetime ban for mine.
Really? Shouldn't be that hard to work out... Captain Jack is spot on... ignorance!
I was the one who reported this guy to police, and it was amazing to see so many people around him give it back and let him know it's not on. I tweeted at the club on the day to see if they'd revoke his membership, and it's amazing to see they've done the right thing straight away. Good on all involved.
Saw this in the herald sun before. Top work to the suporters who stood up and made it clear this is simply not on. I dont know if i am being harsh but i would make it alot harder for that member to even get a membership back. Dont get me wrong a racial vilification education program is good. But i would be making it harder than that to get a membership back.
Maybe make them 'earn their sash' on BJ's hangar segment?
In all seriousness though, hopefully the education program sorts the guy out, but if he was to reoffend after undertaking the course I'd be asking the afl to ban him for life.
A majority of the fans are good supporters, I know we like to boo our own Champions (Salmon), we boo our general players (Stanton), we yell abuse because of our game plan and at the players executing directives, we boo injured umpires, whinge the most and believe we are being cheated, AND we racially abuse... This isn't a once off, I hear it a bit these days.. joking manners mostly.. Glad this person was singled out.
A lot of it is passion, but we do seem to cross the lines some times. Probably not able to control our anger is a problem here, and we know our club is the 2nd most frustrating one to follow (Richmond no. 1 and this is a tongue in cheek comment) , but the racial thing I don't get. It's 2014 and some people just can't get around this and resort to it.
Racial abuse has no place in society, unfortunately some people just don’t get it. If you have to boo or yell at an opposition player it should be based on football matters not on skin colour.
I didn't see the "anonymous post" that was reported in the Hun today (haven't been on Blitz all weekend), but if it was from the family that sits together in front of me - you guys are ■■■■■■■ legends and thank you for coming forward with me. I wouldn't have reported it if you guys didn't have my back.
Racism perpetuated by an ignorant minority will always exist in society. No amount of education can ever fully eradicate it.
But what is heartening is that the tolerance of racist behaviour by that ignorant minority is no longer accepted. Ordinary folk like Balking Heads and bdj85 now stand up and say "it is not OK" instead of ignoring it and pretending they didn't hear it because it doesn't affect them directly. For that, society should be applauded and in this case Balking Heads and bdj85 should have our thanks.
I am proud that football, and in particular my club, had a very real part in helping change that culture.
"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing"
I was the one who reported this guy to police, and it was amazing to see so many people around him give it back and let him know it's not on. I tweeted at the club on the day to see if they'd revoke his membership, and it's great to see they've done the right thing straight away. Good on all involved and thank you EFC.
Well done mate. Whilst we don't want to lose our members, if they don't behave like civilised people, out they go! Again, well done for standing up to this type of nonesense.
Having now found the thread that was posted on Blitz... it appears there must have been at least two Essendon supporters evicted for racial abuse of Adam Goodes during that game. I'm on level one and was two rows in front of the guy I reported; the other thread was posted by someone on level two, so we can't have been talking about the same guy.
I'm not sure how I feel about the fact that there were two separate incidences of EFC supporters being evicted for racial abuse...
I was with Balking Heads and the incident, as he described occurred on level 2 in the High Mark Area. I know he was contacted by the Club last night about the incident but I have no details.
I am sure he will be on line tonight.
Having now found the thread that was posted on Blitz... it appears there must have been at least two Essendon supporters evicted for racial abuse of Adam Goodes during that game. I'm on level one and was two rows in front of the guy I reported; the other thread was posted by someone on level two, so we can't have been talking about the same guy.
I'm not sure how I feel about the fact that there were two separate incidences of EFC supporters being evicted for racial abuse...
I'm actually trying hard to figure out why an Essendon supporter would racially vilify anyone. We've had such a presence amongst the indigenous community since the 80s and have had and still have great indigenous players in our team. Lifetime ban for mine.
The mentality behind it is the modern racist is only colourblind if the black guy is on our team.
I think generally though, it seems socially acceptable to insult members of the opposition (or the umpires). And of course when it comes to name calling, people generally don't start out with "you extremely strong, tall, athletic, highly skilled, dual Brownlow winning, 4 time All-Australian, Australian of the Year" before they say "mongrel". They like to point out things that will upset the victim, like their perceived short comings.
I'm sure the opposition refer to Fletch as a skinny red-headed c*nt and they had a few choice names for David Hille, and unfortunately for black players the first thing that comes to mind for these abusive fans is race related.