South Australian football rallies behind troubled former star Robbie Muir, issues ‘unreserved apology’ for racist abuse
The SA football community has issued an “unreserved apology’’ to former West Torrens and Woodville footballer Robbie Muir for racist abuse he suffered during his controversial career, describing it as “appalling”.
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The SA football community has issued an “unreserved apology’’ to former West Torrens and Woodville footballer Robbie Muir for racist abuse he suffered during his controversial career.
The SANFL, Woodville-West Torrens Football Club and the man who sacked him from Woodville, former Adelaide Crows chairman Bill Sanders, say they are deeply sorry for the “appalling racism’’ he endured in three seasons in the local league from 1979 to 1985.
A former St Kilda VFL star, Muir played 15 games in two stints with Torrens in 1979 and 1982 and four for Woodville in 1985 – before the two clubs merged. He was sacked by Sanders after he jumped the fence at Thebarton Oval and attacked a spectator who had been abusing him.
Muir, now 66 and living in SA, this week revealed the full extent of the racist abuse he had endured and claimed he had in the past few years been turned away from Saints and Eagles social events, being told: “No, you’re not welcome here.’’
The Eagles said, in a statement signed by chief executive Luke Powell and president Christine Williams, that they had read and acknowledged Muir’s story, aired by the ABC.
“The club is deeply distressed to learn of the disgraceful racism and harassment he experienced while playing with and against the former Woodville Football Club and the West Torrens Football Club. The club unreservedly apologises to Robert and his family for the trauma they have all experienced as a result of the actions of all parties involved at the time,” it said.
“Racism has no place in society and the WWTFC continues to work hard in educating our community the importance of this. The club (will) reach out ... and assure him that he is most welcome at our club at any time.’’
The SANFL also apologised to Muir, saying it “highlights the pain and suffering he endured from racial taunts and disrespectful actions of supporters at the match between Woodville and West Torrens in 1985”.
“Unfortunately, we acknowledge this would not be an isolated incidence of racism in our game from the past, which must be addressed,” it said in a statement, adding that the league also would reach out to Muir.
He missed 22 VFL league games due to suspension during his 12-year career from 1974-85, where he played only 68 VFL and 19 SANFL matches. He said he had often sought the refuge of toilet cubicles to hide the torment and tears he suffered from racism.
Muir’s SANFL career famously ended in round eight, 1985, in his first year with Woodville. Thrown a football lifeline under then playing-coach Malcolm Blight because of his enormous talent, he was playing full back on star Torrens spearhead John Roberts when trouble broke out. With a hostile crowd, Muir was reported for striking star Torrens spearhead John Roberts and was subjected to racist abuse and even had cans and bottles hurled at him. At the end of the game, he jumped the fence and clashed with a spectator before being escorted away by police.
A few days later, he was fired by Sanders, who said yesterday he was “ saddened and sorry to hear of the persecution and hardships Robbie has endured and if I or football can help in any way we will be here for him”.