Disgusted Collingwood stars sever ties with AFL club for good over racism claims

Heritier Lumumba says he and two other former Pies have cut off contact with Collingwood for good over the club’s handling of racism allegations.

Collingwood has been embroiled in a racism saga.

Former Collingwood star Heritier Lumumba says he and other ex-players have severed ties completely with the club over its handling of allegations of racism.

Lumumba said on Twitter on Wednesday he, Leon Davis and Andrew Krakouer — who all played for Collingwood — want nothing more to do with the Pies.

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“After 15 months of dialogue to address past incidents of racism at the Collingwood Football Club, Leon Davis, Andrew Krakouer and I have formally notified the club that we are officially terminating all communications with CFC,” Lumumba wrote.

“Nothing has changed. It is our firm belief that the Collingwood Football Club has no intention of acting in good faith to achieve a just outcome for past players who have experienced racism at the Club.”

Lumumba has spoken out repeatedly over an alleged racist culture he says existed at Collingwood during his time with the AFL giant. He says there was a culture of “racist jokes” and alleges he was referred to as “Chimp” by teammates.

Lumumba voiced some of his accusations during an emotional interview with The Project’s Waleed Aly in 2017.

The club has reportedly tried to make the situation with Lumumba right in recent years but according to Wednesday’s social media post, that’s no longer an option.

Heritier Lumumba has spoken out about alleged racism at Collingwood.

Last year an independent investigation found Collingwood was guilty of fostering “systemic racism” that had “resulted in profound and enduring harm to First Nations and African players”.

Former Magpies president Eddie McGuire announced the club would undertake the “Do better” report to improve its racial and cultural awareness and understanding.

McGuire later resigned as a furious backlash erupted when he tried to put a positive spin on the investigation, calling it a “proud day” for the club.

Krakouer has also spoken out about alleged instances of racism during his time at Collingwood. Last year he spoke about an ugly locker room incident where he called out teammates for using a racial slur.

“I’ve got no interest in mentioning any names, but there was a group talking and I heard the word ‘B**ng’ come up,” Krakouer told the Herald Sun.

“Straight away there were a number of emotions running through me. I was anxious, I was angry, I was annoyed — and in disbelief that I had just heard that in my own workplace and it was my own teammates who were making the racial slurs.

“They tried to sort of laugh it off and say, ‘It’s nothing, mate, don’t worry about it’, and I said, ‘No, actually, I just heard you guys say the word ‘B**ng’ and you’re laughing about it. I want to know what’s so funny’.

Andrew Krakouer has spoken of his experiences at the club.

“(One teammate) told me that the word ‘B**ng’ came from back in the day when white Australians used to run over Aboriginal people in their car and that ‘B**ng’ was the sound the car made when it hit them.

“I was absolutely disgusted in that person’s response and the fact that it was funny to him and that it was a joke.

“These guys were my teammates and I had to play footy with them. It was a moment where I really thought to myself, ‘What am I doing here?’”