David Koch: When it comes to racism in AFL, education is better than simply banning
A LIFE ban on the woman who threw a banana at Eddie Betts was a possibility — but the question I later asked myself was whether it would achieve anything constructive, writes David Koch.
- VIDEO: Betts speaks out, banana-thrower says sorry
- RADIO CALL: Banned fan’s dad claims it wasn’t a racist act
- HISTORY: Why throwing bananas is such a notorious racist slur
- IN HIDING: Woman who threw banana deletes social media profiles
FOOTBALL is divisive. It can divide families, cities, and certainly opinions, but it shouldn’t divide our culture, or our society.
Saturday’s incident at the Showdown is one of those flashpoints that has the potential to divide. Instead, we should use it to reinforce the idea that football, and people involved in it, can turn these moments into opportunities to unite.
The conduct by our club member is inexcusable and it is easy to appreciate the passionate response from the broader community to the vision shared widely on social media on Saturday night.
The kneejerk response would be to impose a life ban on this member, to prevent her from attending our home games ever again. Certainly, that was a possibility I was open to in the hours following the incident.
But the question I later asked myself, was whether it would achieve anything constructive.
Does shutting a person out from our game, a game so loved, by so many, send the right message? Does vilification upon vilification really achieve anything in this era of social media lynch mobs?
Is it not better to address the ignorance that offends so many with compassion that can help to address an issue that, frankly, rears its ugly head too often?
Yes, we indefinitely suspended a member of our club, but we have offered her the chance to learn about the very real, very unfair disadvantages and discrimination that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people face every day through our cultural awareness program.
Some of the strongest voices against a permanent ban came from our own Aboriginal leaders within the club ... and Eddie Betts. Not only a gifted footballer and community leader but also an incredibly decent person.
Eddie has approved every decision we’ve made in dealing with this issue and been strongly supportive. I’d like to thank him publicly for his tolerance, understanding, generosity of spirit and guidance over the last couple of days.
At Port Adelaide, we are fortunate to be supported by an extraordinary team of Aboriginal players and staff. Our head of Aboriginal programs Paul Vandenbergh is considered one of the foremost, emerging leaders for indigenous voices in the AFL, and in Australia broadly.
Paul’s cultural awareness program is used by a number of corporate bodies in South Australia, because it isn’t about football. It’s about the history and cultural richness of the many language and cultural groups around Australia.
Should our former member respond positively in this program and show genuine remorse, I think it is reasonable that she should be allowed, eventually, to come back to the footy. That decision will be made by Paul and our Aboriginal players.
Education can foster empathy and understanding, and we all agree that is a powerful force for good.
If we can educate one person on the issues that indigenous Australians face every day, they can become an agent for change in their own life — with their friends and family.
It is through education that we can turn a potentially divisive moment into one that builds stronger connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia.
And Port Adelaide, a club that has uncovered great names like Gavin Wanganeen, the Burgoyne brothers, Byron Pickett, Andrew McLeod, the Bonds, the Daveys, the Mileras, and given a place for Chad Wingard, Jake Neade, Jarman Impey, Paddy Ryder, Brendon Ah Chee, Karl Amon, Nathan Krakouer and Aidyn Johnson to show their incredible skill on the national stage, will continue to lead in conversations of reconciliation and empowerment for Indigenous people in Australian Football and beyond.
David Koch is the Port Adelaide Football Club chairman