Eddie McGuire has condemned the booing of Buddy Franklin, labelling it “unsportsmanlike” and calling for followers to “cease focusing on particular person individuals”.
Franklin was repeatedly booed by spectators through the Sydney Swans’ 29-point loss to Collingwood final weekend.
Whereas many believed it was both to do with the very fact they needed to try to get below the pores and skin of the Swans’ finest participant or battle again after Sydney tried to tough up younger celebrity Nick Daicos, there was a nasty style left in followers’ mouths.
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Some even questioned whether or not the booing was racially motivated by the Pies followers.
The footy world has all had its say with the Swans and AFL condemning the booing, the Pies apologising and standing alongside Franklin.
Even Collingwood legend and former coach Nathan Buckley stated on SEN on Monday: “At worst, it’s ignorance and bigotry.”
Indigenous legend Eddie Betts stated Franklin’s opinion is the one one that basically issues.
“And if Buddy thinks it’s racist, it’s racist. If he doesn’t suppose it’s racist, it’s not racist,” Betts stated on AFL 360.
Talking on Footy Labeled on Wednesday evening, McGuire criticised Collingwood supporters for booing Franklin.
“I used to be on the recreation watching … When it occurred, I went, ‘Oh, geez, don’t go down this (path). Please … simply don’t’,” McGuire stated.
“One, it’s a celebrity, and two, he’s an Indigenous bloke. Simply don’t go right here, don’t put your head within the lion’s mouth and pull its tail. There’s a time and place. So, I simply suppose, actually, Indigenous gamers have copped sufficient over the journey that perhaps you do make an exception. I do know everybody says, ‘Everybody’s equal’, however they haven’t been equal over the journey.”
McGuire, who additionally criticised the Swans for focusing on Magpies teen Nick Daicos, stated there’s a time and place for booing however this wasn’t it.
“(Tom) Papley? Boo him all day due to what he did to Nick Daicos,” he stated.
“If Buddy had have cleaned any person up or achieved one thing? Yep, truthful sufficient. If he’s lining up for objective and the scores are stage, boo the hell out of him.
“However I simply suppose we have to cease focusing on particular person individuals as a result of I simply suppose it’s unsportsmanlike.”
Essendon nice Matthew Lloyd stated the response to the booing of Franklin had been “overkill”.
“I feel an excessive amount of has been manufactured from it all through the week,” Lloyd stated.
“It’s a passionate recreation.
“I took it (as), and numerous Collingwood supporters stated, ‘He’s a champion participant, he’s killed us numerous occasions, we needed to get below his pores and skin and we’ll do it to the following champion participant’.
“So I feel it’s been a little bit of overkill.”
Initially printed as ‘Don’t go there’: Eddie McGuire weighs in on Buddy Franklin booing saga
