Mason Cox calls out racial slur aimed at Collingwood teammate Travis Varcoe

Mason Cox has called out a disgraceful racial slur aimed at his teammate Travis Varcoe in the wake of the Magpies’ loss to Essendon. The club now wants fans to help identify the culprit.

Travis Varcoe. Picture: AAP Images

Collingwood forward Mason Cox has called out a “disgraceful” racial slur aimed at his teammate Travis Varcoe in the wake of Friday night’s clash with Essendon.

It is the latest in a line of recent social media vilification aimed at Indigenous AFL players, with Cox, Collingwood and AFL Players Association CEO Paul Marsh labelling the comments as appalling.

The slur - the same used recently against Carlton’s Eddie Betts - saw the Magpies condemn the tweet “in the strongest possible terms” and stressed it had established the author of the offending social media post is not a member of the Collingwood Football Club.

The club has also urged anyone involved in the online conversation or has details about the post to contact them, saying they stand united with Varcoe and Cox.

Cox had also been referenced in the offending tweet.

“I’m happy to take criticism,” Cox said on Saturday morning. “Not the first, won’t be the last but to say this about a brother is disgraceful.”

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Travis Varcoe was the target of a racist social media post. Picture: Michael Klein

“Look around you. There is no excuse. Listen, learn, and be better. Educate yourself because this is not ok.”

Collingwood chief executive Mark Anderson said: “The ignorance and prejudice in the comments is simply appalling.”

“Today, the football community willingly accepts that we have an obligation to put a stop to abuse of our people.

“I do not understand how such comments continue to be made.

“We stand with Travis and Mason and against vilification of this or any other variety and will do whatever we can to call these individuals to account.”

Marsh tweeted: “Here we go again. More racist filth directed at our players. Cannot comprehend how a human being could say this about another person.

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Betts has been racially abused on social media at least three times this year and said he had questioned his AFL future as a result of constant racial vilification.

He spoke out passionately on Fox Footy recently, saying: “All I want to do is rock up to training, play and enjoy the game of footy.”

“I’m sick and tired of it, but I want the AFL to be a safe platform for young Aboriginal kids to come and enjoy and play footy without being racially abused.”

Originally published as Mason Cox calls out racial slur aimed at Collingwood teammate Travis Varcoe