Eddie McGuire steps aside from commentary duties out of respect for Cynthia Banham
UPDATE: Eddie McGuire has stepped aside from his commentary duties for Essendon’s clash with St Kilda out of respect for double amputee Cynthia Banham after his criticism of her coin toss.
VIC News
Don't miss out on the headlines from VIC News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Eddie McGuire has stepped aside from his commentary duties for today’s clash between Essendon and St Kilda out of respect for double amputee Cynthia Banham after his criticism of her coin toss.
Prior to Sydney’s round 2 clash against Adelaide at the SCG, McGuire made one of the biggest gaffes of his career and was subsequently slammed by the Swans and AFL fans before issuing an on-air apology.
“Out of respect for Cynthia Banham and the Sydney Swans, I have requested not to call today’s game between Essendon and St Kilda,” McGuire said in a statement.
“I am deeply sorry and regretful for the comments I made last night about the coin tossing system. I should never have spoken without properly viewing the footage.
“I unreservedly apologise to Cynthia, her family and the Sydney Football Club for the pain and hurt that my comments have caused.”
McGuire’s decision was accepted by Fox Sports who expressed their regret over the incident.
“Following comments Eddie McGuire made about coin tossing during last night’s coverage of the Sydney v Adelaide game, Eddie has requested not to call today’s game. We support this decision,” said Head of Fox Sports Peter Campbell.
“We are disappointed with the comments made and we deeply apologise to Cynthia, her family and the Sydney Football Club.”
Sydney chairman Andrew Pridham said that a remorseful McGuire “sounded terrible” and was “in a world of pain” but lamented that the outspoken Magpies boss continues to “bring it upon himself.”
“There needs to be strong action rather than just words,” Pridham said.
“I’m not passing judgement on what the action should be, because I don’t know. But I think the community generally demands consequences when people do something that is wrong.
“The AFL and the media I think do have a poor track record where they do let things slide or just paper over them and they don’t get dealt with.
“Cynthia is the person I’m most concerned about. She’s a totally innocent party in the middle of all this and she shouldn’t be dragged into the debate.
“I think there’s a few people who need to have a good hard look at themselves or the way in which their organisations go about things and that’s what has to happen.”
AFL legend Leigh Matthews believes the furore surrounding McGuire’s comments is an ‘overreaction’.
“I saw it, I was watching Fox at the time I’m going a bit ‘overreaction’, because Eddie’s been on about tossing the coin properly and trying to be a bit funny and it was nothing to do with the person tossing the coin per se, it was saying, ‘can we toss the coin properly, make sure it’s flipped up in the air’,” Matthews said on 3AW.
“And ok, you can be offended because the lady is... I didn’t do the connection that what Eddie said would be disrespectful for the person tossing the coin.
“Eddie’s been on this ‘make sure we toss the coin properly’ and it’s sort of a theme that he’s been pushing over the period of time.
“I don’t know, I saw it and drawing along to say it’s being disrespectful to the person tossing the coin that’s, sort of, I don’t know...”
“I do go the overreaction on the way I observed it.”
THE INCIDENT
Banham, who lost one leg and part of the other when she survived a plane crash in 2007, was leaning on a walking stick as she did the coin toss in the middle of the SCG.
She looked unsteady on her feet and was even supported by the umpire as the cameras focused on her, before McGuire launched into an oblivious rant about coin tossing in the AFL.
“I think we should introduce a $5000 fine for anybody who is tossing the coin who can’t do it properly,” he said.
“Every week you get someone drop it on their foot — come on, toss it up properly for goodness’ sake, practice in the week you know you’re going to do it.
“It can’t be that hard, can it guys? Seriously.”
The AFL this morning (Saturday) released a statement confirming McGuire issued a follow up apology to both Banham and the club.
“Eddie McGuire last night reached out to Cynthia Banham, the Sydney Swans and the AFL to apologise unreservedly for his inappropriate on-air comments,” a spokesperson said.
“He acknowledges his comments caused distress and do not reflect those of our game, which prides itself on being welcoming to all.”
McGuire’s comments went viral shortly before the match started and the Swans wasted no time in voicing their disapproval.
GRANT THOMAS BACK-PEDALS ON NEWMAN’S TRANS VIDEO
GOODES GAFFE: EDDIE BLAMES PAINKILLERS
CLUB OUTRAGE
After the siren, the club released a club statement in which they condemned McGuire’s remarks.
“The Sydney Swans are incredibly disappointed by inappropriate comments made tonight by Eddie McGuire. The comments show not only a lack of empathy, but also ignorance,” the club statement said.
“Cynthia Banham is a passionate Sydney Swans member, our number one ticket holder, and a courageous woman who is an inspiration to all of us at the club. She was one of the key figures behind our Diversity Action Plan.
“Regardless of who is invited to toss the coin, they are doing so by invitation and as recognition of their love of the sport or club. It’s a tradition that should be celebrated. We are extremely proud Cynthia was there to toss the coin for our first home game at the SCG this season.
“Eddie, by contrast is a highly experienced and credentialed presenter. He should and does know better.
“As a club we have endured numerous occurrences such as tonight’s. Slip of the tongue, over tiredness etc. Just a misunderstanding, comments taken out of context.
“Eddie needs to focus less on his too frequent sincere apologies and more on tolerance and respect.
“Cynthia has endured significant hardship in her life and her strength shines through. She loves the Sydney Swans. We love her.
“Footy is for everyone.”
MCGUIRE’S FIRST APOLOGY
At halftime, the Fox Footy and Triple M presenter — still maligned in Sydney for his infamous Adam Goodes comments a few years back — gave Banham an unreserved apology, but denied his comments were directed at her personally.
“Before the bounce, I made some comments about how we do the coin toss,” he said.
“It had nothing to do with Cynthia Banham, who was the coin tosser tonight at the SCG, who has a disability, and I just want to apologise if this was communicated in the wrong way.
“I did not mean to offend anyone, especially Cynthia, and I apologise unreservedly to her and her family and friends and Swans supporters and anybody watching tonight who took it that way.”
Banham was on-board the Garuda Flight 200 that crashed in Yogyakarta in March 2007, claiming the lives of 21 people, including five Australians.
She was covering a tour by the Australian foreign minister when the plane crashed.
Banham is a Swans ambassador and Sydney’s No.1 ticket holder, and holds a Doctor of Philosophy and a Masters in International Affairs.
VIEWERS TURN OFF EDDIE’S COMMENTS
Fans were quick to voice their displeasure on social media.
One man wrote: “Cynthia is a great and passionate ambassador for the Swans and the AFL. For Eddie McGuire to so casually insult her on national TV is infuriating and disgraceful.”
Another said: “Eddie McGuire made fun of this woman for not tossing the coin well. She looked like she could barely stand and had a walking stick. Oops.”
One woman commented: “It’s just not footy season until Eddie McGuire makes an on air apology.”
Cynthia Banham, journalist and scholar, who survived the Yogyakarta plane crash, who is an amputee, tossed the coin at the Swans game tonight. Eddie McGuire mocked her coin tossing skills.
— Erin Riley (@erinrileyau) March 29, 2019
Good to see Eddie McGuire is working his way through offending every group in society.
— Titus O'Reily (@TitusOReily) March 29, 2019
Eddie McGuire made fun of this woman for not tossing the coin well. She looked like she could barely stand and had a walking stick. Oops 🤦â€â™‚ï¸ #AFLSwansCrows pic.twitter.com/8KUN4McXoe
— Chris Kaias (@ChrisKaias) March 29, 2019
It’s just not footy season until Eddie McGuire makes an on air apology. #AFLSwansCrows
— Non Sensible Kate (@nonsensiblekate) March 29, 2019
EDDIE IN HOT WATER … AGAIN
It is not the first time McGuire’s comments have landed him in hot water.
He commented on Adam Goodes’ war cry celebration and said: “We’ve never seen that (celebration) before and I don’t think we ever want to see it again to be perfectly honest, regardless of what it is.”
He later clarified and said he was “deeply offended” by anyone inferring he had been critical of Goodes.
That comment, which was made during the height of the AFL’s shameful booing scandal, was referenced on stage at Sydney’s jersey presentation this year when Goodes was inducted into the hall of fame.
SHORTEN’S SLAP FOR EDDIE MCGUIRE
EDDIE IN THE HOT SEAT OVER JOKE
In 2016, he “joked” on Triple M radio about drowning AFL journalist Caroline Wilson at the Big Freeze at the G, an event where celebrities plunge into icy water to raise money for motor neurone disease.
In 2015, he called then-Victorian sports minister John Eren a “soccer-loving, Turkish-born Mussie” at an AFL meeting.
In 2013, McGuire was forced to apologise after making a comment on radio that Goodes could be used to promote the King Kong musical.
He came under fire in 2010 for jibes about male figure skaters when hosting the Winter Olympics with Mick Molloy.
‘Angels’: Hero Coles workers save mum’s life
A mother of three has opened up on how her life was saved after she suddenly collapsed while doing a routine supermarket shop.
Wildlife and traffic fears over music festival
Wildlife advocates fear a weekend music festival in central Victoria will endanger native animals including rescued joeys.