Should Etihad Stadium be renamed?

THE marriage equality lobby says it does not think Etihad Stadium should be renamed, despite harsh anti-homosexuality laws in the United Arab Emirates.

AFL Goal umpire Michael Craig, left, Beyondblue Chairman Jeff Kennett, St Kilda CEO Matt Finnis and AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan at Etihad Stadium on 9 August 2016 ahead of the Saints vs. Swans Pride Game. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

THE marriage equality lobby group says it does not think Etihad Stadium should be renamed or boycotted, despite harsh anti-homosexuality laws in the United Arab Emirates.

It comes amid growing calls for Margaret Court Arena to be renamed after the tennis great last week sparked outrage for saying she would no longer fly with Qantas over the airline’s stance on gay marriage.

Current and former tennis champions including Martina Navratilova, Richel Hogenkamp and Casey Dellacqua have hit out at the 74-year-old Christian pastor, while Tennis Australia and the operators of Melbourne and Olympic Parks have distanced themselves from her comments.

Some on social media have accused Ms Court’s critics of double standards for not calling for Etihad Stadium in Melbourne’s Docklands to be renamed. Etihad Airways is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, where homosexuality is a crime punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment.

According to Amnesty International, the death penalty could technically apply under the Islamic country’s strict penal code, but as of 2016 the human rights group was unaware of any executions carried out for consensual same-sex conduct.

Tiernan Brady, executive director of The Equality Campaign, dismissed the calls. “Our sole focus remains on marriage equality because we want a fairer Australia where everyone is treated with the same dignity and respect,” he said.

“Marriage Equality is about people, not buildings. It’s about our families, friends, colleagues and teammates enjoying the same respect and dignity in the land of a fair go.”

Etihad has been the naming rights sponsor of the Docklands Stadium since 2009, and the contract was extended in 2012 for a further five years to 2019. The Abu Dhabi-based, government-owned airline pays an estimated $5-9 million a year, according to 2009 reports.

The AFL bought out the multipurpose, 53,000-seat venue last year in a deal worth an estimated $200 million. Unlike fellow sporting codes the NRL, FFA and Basketball Australia, the AFL declined to officially back Australian Marriage Equality’s corporate campaign earlier this year.

But AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has previously indicated his personal support for the issue, saying in 2014 he would “continue to speak out in this area whenever I can”. Last year, a successful Pride Game between St Kilda and Sydney sparked calls for the event to become an annual fixture.

The AFL did not respond to requests for comment.

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Activists want Margaret Court arena renamed for her view on marriage. What say they about Etihad Stadium whose country bans homosexuals?

— Wendy Francis (@wendyjoyfrancis) May 27, 2017

Gays call to change name of Margaret Court Arena, but silent on Etihad Stadium? Min. year in jail for them in UAE. https://t.co/9hltsIMKnG

— Dr. Greg Smith (@pr_doctor) May 28, 2017

Etihad, Emirates...all connections with countries that persecute gays. No chance of renaming stadiums. Margaret Court speaks up, bullied!😱

— Pina Soccio (@Pinagarry) May 29, 2017

Damn it. RW nuts calling out the hypocrisy of wanting change of name for Margaret Court Arena & not Etihad have a point.

— Ashley Leahy (@AshleyLeahy) May 27, 2017

@ChillNZborn @GailClifford7 @AlanThorold @Oz566 @kelliekelly23 @BoyfromBurleigh @HFMarti @KateTraveller @benelongtime @shockresistant2 @lollyexpert @whozenexxt @2020_juliana The difference is Margaret Court doesn't pay for "her" stadium ... Etihad does ... Money speaks way louder than conviction to hypocrites 🕊☮️

— ~ AJ ~ (@riversong77) May 27, 2017

@pr_doctor Both names will change. Court when the US trend for removing bigot's names comes here, Etihad when they stop paying.

— Suzy Le C (@SuzyLeCon) May 29, 2017

@wendyjoyfrancis @LyleShelton Etihad pay, Margaret Court is honoured a little different although I agree the UAE law is much worse than someone with an opinion.

— peter pumpkineater (@hemmyroidz) May 27, 2017

@theboltreport Leftists want to rename M.Court stadium because a religious woman has views on SSM but nothing on renaming Etihad stadium!
HYPOCRITES‼️ pic.twitter.com/PSSgrIddjl

— Dave Lincoln Ford (@mopar_oz) May 29, 2017

@mopar_oz @theboltreport was paid for sponsorship, the other was given as an honour to someone who clearly doesn't honour Aussie values.

— Wayde RunChay Ⓥ (@ZombieBunnie) May 29, 2017