The AFL has issued an ‘unreserved’ apology to Adam Goodes over their inaction

The AFL has offered an apology over their ‘failures’ to Adam Goodes, but the timing has been widely slammed by football fans.

Former AFL superstar Adam Goodes’ upcoming documentary ‘The Final Quarter’ has captured the attention of football players and fans across the country.

Set to premiere at the Sydney Film Festival on Friday night, the documentary highlights the final three seasons of Goodes’ career in which he suffered racial abuse and discrimination.

The movie has already prompted plenty of discussion about the league’s inaction during the booing saga that preceded Goodes’ retirement in 2015 but also racism and Australian society.

It has sparked emotive responses from a range of audiences during advanced screenings, with Goodes finding it very difficult to watch.

On the day the film is set to make its public premiere, the AFL has offered up an “unreserved” apology to the former player acknowledging the league’s inaction during the period.

But the reaction to the league’s apology has been slammed by fans of the game who were quick to point out it has come four years too late.

Goodes’ documentary will make its public premiere tonight.

‘INSTITUTIONALLY RACIST’ AFL CONDEMNED

The league’s admission over their failures to act, while Goodes’ final years of his career were riddled under a cloud of boos, has been slammed by fans.

After retiring in 2015, it has taken the league almost four years to offer up a formal apology over the ugly racism row that engulfed the Sydney Swans superstar.

The decision to offer up the apology on the day Goodes’ documentary is premiering didn’t catch fans off guard who saw it as an opportunistic grab.

The AFL and it’s Commission is institutionally racist.

The appalling treatment of Adam Goodes by the game & its fans are not mere “failings”. This isn’t just a case of prejudice by a few.

This is a great opportunity to tackle systemic racism within AFL and in other sports. https://t.co/2ea4yfAjoD

— Francis Awaritefe (@FrancisAwartefe) June 7, 2019

Took the AFL four years and two documentaries to work out that Adam Goodes was in the middle of a shit sandwich. Truly #woke 👏 https://t.co/4D0KH4SLjU

— Phil Lutton (@phillutton78) June 7, 2019

Not before time.

Why it took this long to have the courage to defend basic decency will be a mark against @AFL for all time.

AFL issues 'unreserved apology' for failings over Adam Goodes saga https://t.co/SsTFReWTbI

— Francis Leach (@SaintFrankly) June 7, 2019

The Goodes tragedy was an abject failure of leadership, and a misunderstanding by the AFL of its role and responsibility in society. A statement is a statement - albeit a significant one - but actions are far more important. It is hard not to be cynical with the timing #AFL

— Ryan Buckland (@RyanBuckland7) June 7, 2019

The apology is too little too late, @AFL - most of us knew what was happening at the time. Why did you not act then? https://t.co/KDzEEKemkC

— Matt Nicholls #freeLatifa (@mattnicholls29) June 7, 2019

Does the AFL apologise re: Adam Goodes if there weren't two documentaries coming that make them look bad? Probs not hey...

— Vince Rugari (@VinceRugari) June 7, 2019

Of course not all believed the timing of the apology was questionable.

AFL, CLUBS FULL APOLOGY STATEMENT

“The Australian Football League and the 18 AFL Clubs have come together to make this statement on behalf of our members, administrators, staff and players,” the statement read.

“The history of the game says that Australian Rules has officially been played for 161 years.

“Yet, for many years before, Aboriginal history tells us that traditional forms of football were played by Australia’s first peoples all over Australia, most notably in the form of Marngrook in the Western Districts of Victoria. It is Australia’s only Indigenous football game — a game born from the ancient traditions of our country. It is a game that is proudly Australian.

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players are some of the most extraordinary players that the game has seen, and football has played a part in positive social change for many people and communities.

“2019 will see the release of two important films about football, racism and discrimination. The films focus on the treatment of Adam Goodes, one of the game’s greatest champions, and tell the story of Australia’s history with the First Peoples of this land.

The Australian Football League and the 18 AFL Clubs have come together to make this statement on behalf of our members, administrators, staff and players.

— AFL (@AFL) June 7, 2019

“Through Adam’s story, we see the personal and institutional experience of racism. We see that Australia’s history of dispossession and disempowerment of First Nation’s people has left its mark, and that racism, on and off the field, continues to have a traumatic and damaging impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players and communities.

“The treatment of Adam challenges us, and our right to be considered Australia’s indigenous football code. Adam, who represents so much that is good and unique about our game, was subject to treatment that drove him from football. The game did not do enough to stand with him and call it out.

“We apologise unreservedly for our failures during this period.

“Failure to call out racism and not standing up for one of our own let down all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, past and present.

“Our game is about belonging. We want all Australians to feel they belong and that they have a stake in the game. We will not achieve this while racism and discrimination exists in our game.

A powerful moment during Goodes’ stellar career.

“We pledge to continue to fight all forms of racism and discrimination, on and off the field.

“We will stand strongly with all in the football community who experience racism or discrimination.

“We will listen to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players and communities to learn about the impact of racism and in doing so, we will gain a deeper understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

“We will continue to work to ensure a safe and inclusive environment wherever our game is played.

“And we urge all Australians, and in particular our supporters and fans, to see these films with open hearts and minds and learn from the experience and leadership of Adam Goodes, just as we are.

“We are unified on this, and never want to see the mistakes of the past repeated.”