Football racism row splits opinion in Australia
The public jeering of champion Aboriginal footballer Adam Goodes has forced Australians to confront racial prejudices.
Aboriginal Australian rules football star Adam Goodes, twice voted the sport’s player of the year, has been jeered from coast-to-coast.
The controversy began in 2013 when a 13-year-old girl called him an ape during a game and was re-ignited this year when he celebrated a goal with an Aboriginal “war dance” during the Australian Football League’s indigenous round.
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All players suffer taunts from rival fans from time to time, but the level of abuse directed at Goodes has triggered a debate that goes beyond sport.
Sydney Swans Chairman Andrew Pridham described the attacks as “disgraceful, frightening, outdated and flawed”.
Two leading newspapers ‘The Age’ and ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’ wrapped their Saturday editions with a poster asking readers to join the campaign #istandwithadam.
On Inside Story we ask – is Australia being forced to confront a tide of prejudice?
Presenter: Adrian Finighan
Guests:
Matt de Groot – Nova Radio sports reporter
Kirstie Parker – National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples
Charles King – ABC sports commentator