Stop the Mosque MCG banner enrages fans on social media

UPDATE: THE AFL has hit back at an attention seeking anti-Islamic group who baited them over a ‘Stop the mosques’ banner they brought into the MCG.

Tweet showing banner at MCG scoreboard

UPDATE: ATTENTION seeking anti-Islamic group United Patriots Front has dared police and the AFL to ban them for bringing a ‘Stop the mosques’ banner into the MCG.

The banner, which read “Go Pies! Stop the Mosques”, was held up below the MCG scoreboard, disgusting footy fans from both sides.

In a video posted online claiming responsibility for the stunt at the Collingwood and Richmond match last night, UPF leader Blair Cottrell said any action taken by the AFL would only bring attention to their cause and would be purely to appease the “feelings police”.

RITA PANAHI: ‘THERE’S NO ROOM IN FOOTY FOR BIGOTRY’

Disgusting that this banner was displayed at #AFLPiesTigers. Are @CollingwoodFC going to come out and condemn it? pic.twitter.com/bs1CQCwJ3N

— Benjamin Solah (@benjaminsolah) April 1, 2016

“The AFL will be feeling pressured by fear of the politically correct regime,” he said.

Mr Cottrell claimed the banner had been made in response to recent terror attacks, including last month’s bombings in Brussels.

“If this country stopped building places of worship and segregated communities within communities for a foreign power that doesn’t like us very much, I think our country might have a brighter future,” he said.

AFL: WE WILL BAN THEM

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said the banner was deeply offensive, and that the AFL community would not tolerate the game being used to vilify sections of the community.

“Our game has a history of egalitarianism and inclusion, and we must make sure that it continues to be a place where all Australians feel welcome,” he said.

Our game has a history of egalitarianism and inclusion, and we must make sure that it continues to be a place where all Australians feel welcome

Gillon McLachlan

“The sentiment on that banner, and the use of our game to push divisive and ignorant commentary will be rejected by our supporters and our clubs.”

Mr McLachlan said the AFL would work with the stadium and police to identify the people responsible, and if they are members of any club, would be banned from games.

The AFL will make a further statement at 4pm Saturday.

MCGUIRE: BAN THEM FOR LIFE

Meanwhile, Collingwood president Eddie McGuire slammed the banner and said those responsible should be banned for life if the culprits were found to have any official connection to the club.

“The club awaits the outcome of further investigations into the matter by the AFL, the Victoria Police and MCG security,” a club statement read.

“Regardless, these people do not speak for Collingwood and are condemned by Collingwood. If it is established that they have a formal connection to the club, this connection will be severed.

“There is no place at Collingwood, or in our game, for such behaviour.”

McGuire said: “I hope the police got their names and numbers, if they’ve got anything to do with our club they’ll be banned,” McGuire said.

“Get these people and make an example of them, they should be banned for life.”

“We have to knock this on the head as quickly as possible.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop said the banner didn’t reflect Australia’s views of “tolerance and appreciation”.

“There is a time and a place and that was not the time and not the place,” Ms Bishop said in Washington on Saturday.

“I don’t believe that those sentiments add anything to the debate about what is a serious challenge and that is trying to ensure that Australians live side by side, exercising a high degree of tolerance and appreciation of each other’s cultures, backgrounds and differences.”

The banner also included two logos for UPF, the United Patriots Fund, who have organised anti-Islam rallies across the state that have often turned violent.

The banner was unfurled during the second quarter and photographed by supporters nearby.

Collingwood media manager Stephen Rielly said those involved didn’t represent the club.

“Whoever they are, they don’t speak for Collingwood,” Mr Rielly said.

“We understand they were evicted from the stadium and their details were not taken down.”

A picture of the banner was posted on social media during the match and received total condemnation.

The AFL issued a statement after the Magpies thrilling win at the MCG.

“The AFL condemns the behaviour in the strongest terms and such actions have no place in society and not in our game.

“Match day security removed the banner when they became aware of it and evicted the patrons responsible.”

Former AFL players Ahmed Saad and Tony Armstrong joined the condemnation of the banner as did AFL diversity manager Ali Fahour.

Very disappointed to see something like this being displayed at the #AFLPiesTigers game tonight! #ignorance pic.twitter.com/PMV6hJo2hO

— Ahmed Saad (@ahmedsaad23) April 1, 2016

@ahmedsaad23 a minority of ignorant people still in society. #unacceptable

— Ali fahour (@AliFahour) April 1, 2016

In a statement about the banner Victoria Police said: “Police have been advised of an incident that occurred at the MCG during a football match last night in which a sign was held up.”

“Victoria Police is working with the AFL and the MCG in relation to the matter,’’ it said.

“Victoria Police will assess the circumstances and review all evidence to determine if an offence has been committed.”

Melbourne Cricket Club spokesman Shane Brown confirmed the Collingwood supporters involved were evicted.

“As soon as the banner was brought to the attention of our security team, it was taken down and the patrons involved were removed from the stadium.”

“We don’t have anything further to add at this stage.”

Footy fans on social media were outraged at the racist banner being displayed at the stadium, in front of a crowd of 72,671.

“Disgusting that this banner was displayed at #AFLPiesTigers. Are @CollingwoodFC going to come out and condemn it?” Twitter user Benjamin Solah, who tweeted the photo, said.

“That banner at the Collingwood game is disgusting,” Adrian Griffin tweeted.

- with Bridget Davies and Gilbert Gardiner