Eddie Betts, banana-throwing fan speak out about racial abuse at Showdown 41
ADELAIDE Crows footballer Eddie Betts says he has forgiven the woman who threw a banana at him during the Showdown against Port Adelaide – and does not want her to be banned for life.
Crows
Don't miss out on the headlines from Crows. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- RADIO CALL: Banned fan’s dad claims it wasn’t a racist act
- IN HIDING: Woman who threw banana deletes social media profiles
- DAVID KOCH: Why there are better responses than banning for life
- HISTORY: Why throwing bananas is such a notorious racial slur
- RESPONSE: Port vows to educate woman who threw banana
ADELAIDE Crows footballer Eddie Betts says he has forgiven the woman who threw a banana at him during the Showdown against Port Adelaide — and does not want her to be banned for life.
Betts told FIVEaa he wanted Alexandra Pelosi, 27, to be welcomed back to football rather than face punitive action for her actions, condemned across Australia as racist.
“I don’t think she should get a life ban. I think she should come back and enjoy the footy,’’ he said.
“It’s great, she came out and she apologised, I don’t hold grudges - I forgive her for what she’s done.
“I know she’s got a lot of abusing messages on social media. I’ve forgiven her and so should all of you.”
He said we would be happy to meet with Pelosi.
“If she wants to come and meet with me, she can,” he said in an interview with Nine News Adelaide.
Betts admitted he was disappointed when he learnt about the incident — which he was unaware of until he was telephoned by the Adelaide Crows after the game.
“I was just disappointed because it’s still out there, it’s still in our game,’’ he said.
“Everyone enjoys their footy, you’ve just got to be careful what you do and what you say.
“You can’t do that, you can’t throw stuff on the field, you can’t say that towards players.”
Betts said Port Adelaide had one of the best indigenous programs in the AFL and had spoken to Pelosi to offer her cultural awareness training
Seven indigenous players had offered to speak to her and talk about how her actions had affected them.
“This is all about education, it’s never too late to learn,’’ said Betts.
“No one is born racist ... it’s ingrained in them somewhere down the track.
“It all comes down to that, to be educated.”
Betts’ stance was backed by Premier Jay Weatherill. “If it’s good enough for Eddie, it’s good enough for me,” he said on Wednesday.
“I think it is important that we don’t demonise this young woman. She’s done the right thing by taking responsibility for her actions. I think that’s a positive thing that everybody’s moving forward.”
Pelosi, 27, has been fined $543 for disorderly behaviour over the incident, which sparked a storm of outrage over allegations it was a racist act.
SA Police released a statement on Tuesday afternoon saying a woman, from Adelaide’s southern suburbs, had also been issued with a police barring order for six months.
They said the action had been taken “as a result of standard inquiries made by police”.
The action came after Betts on Monday declared his sadness about racism in football but said the national attention on Ms Pelosi was a chance to take a united stand in the fight against racism.
Betts, who didn’t know what had happened until after Saturday’s Showdown, said on Monday he was “disappointed” by her actions.
“It’s sad that racism still exists in our game and hopefully people can learn from it and all we have to do is educate,’’ he told the Crows’ website.
“It was my 250th game and something that we’re meant to celebrate.”
Betts, part of an AFL campaign against racism, said it was fantastic Port had offered its indigenous players to speak to Ms Pelosi.
“Hopefully, people can talk to their kids about why the campaign is important and ... educate family members on racism — it’s not too late to learn,” Betts said.
His comments came as Ms Pelosi — who has been banned indefinitely by Port for the racially motivated act — issued a statement apologising to Betts and the Crows and expressing regret for her “momentary lapse of judgment”.
Betts said he believed he spoke for all AFL players when bluntly telling fans not to throw anything on the field.
“It’s a little bit disappointing that someone is trying to aim at you while you’re playing on the field,” he said. “We go out there and play footy, we go out there to entertain. We don’t want to be fearing for (our safety) or dodging stuff that comes onto the field.
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan said the swift and direct condemnation of the incident, and a phone conversation with Bett’s wife, had given him hope there was progress being made in abolishing racial discrimination. “Instinctively or initially, you’re disheartened,” McLachlan said.
“But I think the response and the unequivocal nature of the response from the football community gives me heart.
“I’m maybe reluctant to say this, but in speaking to Eddie’s wife (Anna Scullie) before, I got great comfort in what she saw as the conversations (happening after the incident) and the feeling of progress is being made and that football is important in that conversation and progression in Australian community.”
On Instagram on Monday, Ms Scullie posted: “I will not stay silent, so you can stay comfortable #ourfuture #bethechange #stopswithme”
McLachlan said fans had to be “accountable for their actions”.
A man who said he was the woman’s father told FIVEaa radio on Monday his daughter had been “demonised” and the media had rushed to label her a racist.
McLachlan said there was no doubt about the nature of her attack. “I don’t think anyone had any doubts about it. I certainly didn’t, seeing it immediately,” McLachlan said.
“I don’t think anyone should doubt it was a racist act. A banana being thrown at an indigenous man is unambiguously racist. We are in 2016 — people have to be accountable for their actions.”
McLachlan backed Port Adelaide’s handling of the controversy. “We are very pleased the behaviour was called out by so many in our community and even by Port Adelaide fans around where the incident occurred on Saturday night,” he said.
“We are very pleased with the swift response of the Port Adelaide Football Club. We continue to work towards a football environment where these incidents don’t occur.”
Betts praised the prompt response from both the Power and Crows, saying he had received overwhelming support from the football and wider community.
“I thought it would take a while for the supporters to embrace me, but since I moved across here the Adelaide Crows supporters have been fantastic and so have the Port supporters,” Betts said.
“I’d like to thank Port Adelaide (for) the way they handled the situation, and not just Port Adelaide but the support I got from my teammates and guys over here at Crowland. Hopefully, we can all learn something from this weekend.” Ms Pelosi’s statement, issued by Port Adelaide, said she never intended to cause harm or distress to Crows’ players or supporters. She also apologised to the entire Port Adelaide community, saying she deeply regretted any embarrassment her actions might have caused.
“Going to a game of football is meant to be a fun and enjoyable event for all and I apologise for ruining it for so many,” her statement says. I regret my momentary lapse of judgment and I did not attend the game with the predetermined attitude of bringing the game into disrepute or to offend anyone.
“Unfortunately, the emotions of the game got the better of me and I hope you all accept my apology. I will accept the sanctions given to me as a result of this incident, with the strongest understanding that there is no place for this kind of behaviour.”
Earlier, Ms Pelosi emerged from her home but did not comment. Her father, “Don”, called in to FIVEaa yesterday to defend his daughter. He was yet to speak to his daughter — who he said was aged 27 and lived with her mother.
“I knew the incident had occurred, ... there were people that I knew and I said ‘look, show me on the phone’, and there it was — my daughter. I am just absolutely shocked. “I’m just beside myself. Because it’s just so uncharacteristic. This kid is a beautiful kid ... This was so uncharacteristic.”
Originally published as Eddie Betts, banana-throwing fan speak out about racial abuse at Showdown 41
‘Never’: Why ANB backflipped on SA homecoming pledge
Six months after declaring he would “never” return to South Australia, Alex Neal-Bullen was unveiled as a Crows player. He reveals what changed to prompt his SA homecoming.
Cornes: It may be the silly season, but early signs are good for Crows
The AFL’s silly season is only just beginning. But Graham Cornes says if the early results are any sign, Crows fans can get excited about 2025.