David Koch accused of ‘gutless slur' after criticising Mick Malthouse

An AFL legend has accused David Koch of making a “gutless slur” as he and a footy icon traded words about the league’s push into China.

Kochie isn't happy with Mick Malthouse

Collingwood legend Tony Shaw has blasted David Koch after the Port Adelaide chairman reinforced his club’s commitment to the AFL’s push into China and issued a scathing response to Mick Malthouse’s criticism of the arrangement.

Gold Coast and Port first played in China in 2017 but Malthouse said going there again was “the last thing” the AFL should do because of the country’s handling of the coronavirus crisis.

But Koch defended the China deal and branded Malthouse a “dinosaur”.

“Mick Malthouse has zero expertise and so zero relevance in any of this,” Koch said.

“If Mick Malthouse made a comment on footy I’d give it a glancing look (but) when it comes to China, absolutely zero relevance whatsoever.

“If it was up to Mick Malthouse, he’d bring back the White Australia policy.”

Magpies premiership captain Shaw slammed Koch on Twitter this morning.

“What a gutless slur David Koch regards ‘white Australia policy’ and Mick Malthouse. He was talking about a (one) football game not endorsing a racist policy akin to apartheid,” Shaw tweeted.

Exactly my sentiments Qaurters. https://t.co/y10nMzYSU3

— Tony Shaw (@TonyShaw22) May 10, 2020

David Koch teeing off at Mick Malthouse... calling him a ‘dinosaur’ and ‘irrelevant...’ referencing the White Australia Policy. Amazing defence of footy in China. #FoxFootyLive @FOXFOOTY

— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) May 9, 2020

Port Adelaide has featured in all three AFL matches in Shanghai to date, against the Suns and then St Kilda.

Koch said football had been used as “a way to build a bridge with China” and gave a reminder of the financial benefits his club reaped from the agreement.

Malthouse took offence to Koch’s “white Australia” remark and clarified he did not have an issue with Chinese people. Instead, his gripe specifically relates to the Chinese government.

Malthouse issued a direct response to Koch and accused Port Adelaide of selling out.

“I’m very disappointed in a bloke like David Koch for those remarks (which) are very, very offline for a start,” Malthouse told ABC Grandstand WA. “Quite frankly, (he is) a man who’s made a decision for his football club to take the money.

“I’ve been called a ‘dinosaur’ before, that’s water off a duck’s back. I’ve also made football comments before and some are right and some are wrong.”

Malthouse added he “gets on famously” with some people of Chinese descent in his extended family.

“I’ve never made any issues about the Chinese,” he said.

“The fact is the virus has come from China, there’s no denying that. “It was the way it has come to the world, the way it has tried to be hidden by a communist regime.”