Gillon McLachlan was on Hawaiian holiday as footy fan furore kicked off

As the footy fan security crisis boiled over, AFL supremo Gillon McLachlan was living it up on a Pacific island, enjoying a lavish birthday party for a billionaire’s son.

AFL Chief Executive Officer Gillon McLachlan. Picture: AAP Image/Daniel Pockett

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan was living it up on a secret Hawaiian holiday as last weekend’s footy fans security crisis hit boiling point.

The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal McLachlan and his wife Laura spent several nights in the Pacific paradise to attend a lavish 50th birthday bash for David Fox - son of trucking billionaire Lindsay Fox.

An AFL spokesman confirmed McLachlan was out of the country as football supporters were subjected to patrols and “aisle walks” by overzealous security guards at Marvel Stadium.

“The CEO was away with his wife on a pre-planned trip during the bye round from Thursday until Monday afternoon,” league media manager Jay Allen said.

“He was available at all times and in constant contact with senior executives over the weekend, including the management of Marvel Stadium.”

The Hawaiian trip went from Thursday until Monday afternoon. File picture: Hawaii Tourism

It was widely reported that McLachlan had held crisis talks with Marvel Stadium chief executive Michael Green last Monday morning when he was in fact travelling home to Australia.

The AFL supremo returned in the afternoon and gave an interview at 5.30pm shortly after landing to the Herald Sun’s Mark Robinson, declaring that he was “appalled” and sorry about the treatment of fans during matches at Marvel on Friday and Saturday night.

McLachlan held a press conference about the security fiasco on Tuesday after returning from Hawaii and has since been heavily criticised for being “very out of touch” with issues affecting the game.

“He’s given answers to a number of questions over the past week which suggest to me that he’s not fully aware of some of the controversies which have been surrounding footy,” 3AW’s Drive host Tom Elliott said on Friday.

McLachlan, who earns more than $2 million a year came under fire two years ago after jetting out for the Tour de France during the football season — a day after sacking AFL executives Simon Lethlean and Richard Simkiss for “inappropriate” sexual relationships with younger female employees.

MORE NEWS: BEST CARS OF ALL TIME REVEALED

TOM ELLIOTT ON CARLTON’S WOES

THE UNDERCOVER STING THAT NABBED CELEB CHIRO

McLachlan was also in Hawaii when he spoke by phone with 3AW’s Neil Mitchell on Friday June 14, the same interview where he insisted that footy fan “Frankie” had run across “two bays of seats” to abuse umpire Mathew Nicholls at a match between Carlton and Brisbane.

He has since retreated from the claim.

The David Fox birthday bash featured a who’s who of Melbourne society with invitees including Lord Mayor Sally Capp and former Essendon chairman David Evans and was reported to be held at the Fox’s Honolulu mansion on Kahala Ave.

[e-mail]