Collingwood racism report: Magpies players unite in apology

Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury has led the Magpies’ entire 150-member playing group in issuing a powerful apology following the club’s damning racism report.

Magpies captain Scott Pendlebury led a statement that said the Magpies’ players “would confront Collingwood’s history” Picture: Michael Klein

Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury has led the Magpies’ entire 150-member playing group in issuing a powerful apology following the club’s damning racism report.

The club’s “150 footballers and netballers” united to write a statement that opened with the word “Sorry”.

Pendlebury and the club posted the message on social media, apologising to anyone who had been “hurt or discriminated against due to their race” through their association with the club.

After taking the time to digest the club’s Do Better report, the Magpies’ playing group said it felt “responsible for these injustices” through “our silence”. The letter was re-tweeted by Pendlebury soon after it was posted.

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Collingwood’s poor response to incidents of racism was laid bare in a 35-page report, which the Herald Sun published on Monday. The report found “systemic racism” within the club that “must be addressed if things are to change”.

The Magpies’ players said they would confront Collingwood’s history, pledging to help create a club that allowed all to “thrive, regardless of race”.

“Sorry. As athletes we are sorry to hurt anyone who, through their association with our club, has been marginalised, hurt or discriminated against due to their race,” the letter read.

“Through our silence, we feel responsible for these injustices.

“We acknowledge it is not enough to simply show support for the principles or anti-racism and inclusion.

“We will confront the history of our club in order to learn, heal and determine how best to walk forward together.

“Over the last 72 hours we have had the opportunity to digest the DO BETTER report.

“We also apologise to those members, fans and community who feel guilt and shame as a result of the systemic racism that has occurred within our organisation. To all the young people who dream about one day pulling on the black-and-white stripes, we pledge as athletes to continue to help create a club that allows ALL of us to thrive, regardless of race.”

The letter was signed off “faithfully” by the club’s playing group. It ended with a note saying it had been endorsed and supported fully by the 120 staff of Collingwood.

Club president Eddie McGuire came under fire after a press conference on Monday when he referred to the report’s release as a “proud” day for the club. McGuire backtracked the following day at the club’s annual general meeting, saying he regretted his choice of words.

“I said it was a proud day for Collingwood, and I shouldn’t have,” McGuire said.

“I did not mean we were proud of past instances of racism and the hurt that it caused. It’s been interpreted widely that way, and I regret that deeply.”

Herald Sun