Collingwood issues apology over Nicky Winmar racism disgrace

The Collingwood Football Club has issued a formal apology to AFL greats Nicky Winmar and Gilbert McAdam.

Footballer Nicky Winmar lifts his guernsey and pointing to his skin to jeering Collingwood fans. 26 April 1993.

The Collingwood Football Club has issued a formal apology to AFL greats Nicky Winmar and Gilbert McAdam.

Winmar was on Sunday honoured by St Kilda and Magpies players ahead of the blockbuster clash between the two clubs at the Adelaide Oval.

The fixture marks 30 years since the infamous day Winmar took an iconic stand against racism, by lifting his shirt towards spectators after being racially abused.

The two clubs confirmed earlier this week Winmar, 57, and McAdam will attend the match and will feature in a pre-game ceremony to acknowledge the traumatic abuse the pair faced during their careers.

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Winmar last month spoke publicly in support of Western Bulldogs star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan after the young gun was racially abused by spectators.

Ugle-Hagan lifted his jumper and pointed to his skin after kicking a goal in his team’s win over the Brisbane Lions the previous week.

That incident has been followed by a series of disgusting cases where Indigenous players have been racially abused on social media, including Crows star Izac Rankine.

The pre-match ceremony for Winmar shows that 30 years after his courageous stand, racism is still a serious issue confronting the sport.

Collingwood on Sunday made a formal apology over the incident that occurred at Victoria Park in 1993. The infamous moment was one of many times Winmar was racially abused throughout his career.

The Collingwood statement was not attributed to any person or official.

The club has been widely criticised for a number of incidents in recent years, ultimately prompting the club’s internal review into claims of racist discrimination at the football club.

The Do Better Report concluded the club was guilty of fostering “systemic racism” that “has resulted in profound and enduring harm to First Nations and African players”.

Nicky Winmar and Gilbert McAdam returned to Victoria Park in 2013.

The investigation found the club’s responses to instances of alleged racism were “at best ineffective, or at worst exacerbated the impact of the racist incidents”.

The club’s lengthy statement released on Sunday included an acknowledgment that a senior club official had made “appalling” comments following the incident with Winmar 30 years ago.

The club said it worked with St Kilda and the AFL to ensure a respectful pre-game acknowledgment of the incident.

“Today, at Collingwood, we do not shy away from ensuring that racism is addressed when we see it or hear it,” the statement read.

“The Collingwood Football Club understands that racism is harmful and has no place in our game and apologises to Nicky Winmar and to Gilbert McAdam for the hurt they experienced playing football.

“It takes courage to stand against racism and when First Nations people do so, it is our opportunity – all Australians – to listen, learn and change for the better.

“Collingwood also apologises for the appalling comments made by its most senior official in the days following that game.

“To go back and reflect on where we got things wrong is important to us and we will continue to listen and learn as we progress our Club.

“In 2020, the Club commissioned the Jumbunna Institute to conduct an independent review which resulted in the Do Better Report, challenging Collingwood to take action to confront racism. The Report concluded with 18 recommendations which the Club adopted and has since implemented.

“In March last year, the Club shared the 12-month review of the work arising from the Do Better Report which noted that Collingwood had made ‘significant and genuine progress’.

“To be clear, we at Collingwood remain on a journey – we believe that real and lasting cultural change takes time, dedication and persistence.

“We also believe there is no finishing line when it comes to eliminating racism. Collingwood is incredibly fortunate to have many proud First Nations people who make up our Club across all levels – as players, coaches, staff and on our Board.

Footballer Nicky Winmar lifts his guernsey and pointing to his skin says "I'm black and I'm proud" to jeering Collingwood fans 26 Apr 1993.

“We thank our First Nations brothers and sisters who continue to share their culture and experiences to make our Club better.

“In recent weeks we have seen too many First Nations players racially vilified. There is still work to do. Racism is never ok – it wasn’t then, and it isn’t now.

“To Nicky Winmar, to Gilbert McAdam, and to their families, we say sorry.”

Winmar issued a statement after Ugle-Hagan’s brave demonstration, telling fans to keep calling out racism when they see it.

“I’m proud of Jamarra for standing up for himself,” Winmar said.

“It’s up to the new generations to reinforce the stance I made back in 1993. I’m still here, still involved with the issue, but it’s been 30 years now, it’s like a big relay race, time to pass on the baton,” the statement reads.

“I spoke to Luke Beveridge today, to thank him for supporting Jamarra, and other Indigenous players at the Western Bulldogs. It’s a great club, that I respect. I was welcomed and felt supported when I played for them in 1999.

“Things are getting better, with increased awareness, and kids are getting educated in schools now about racism in sport and in society, which is great. There’s still a few who can’t control their negative attitudes, all we can do is keep supporting each other, and keep calling it out.

“I also want to congratulate Jamarra for his outstanding on-field performance – 5 goals, keep up the good work!”