The Australian Football League has a history of banning its stakeholders from using the game for politics.
However, league’s relentless support of same-sex marriage appears to have ruffled many feathers.
The code’s backing of the campaign is the latest of a string of socio-political issues it seems to have pushed – from tackling climate change to fighting racial and sexual prejudice.
While it could be argued the league is merely advocating progressive change, some fans have accused the organisation of hypocrisy.
AFL identities Alastair Clarkson Ben Brown, Max Gawn, Dyson Heppell, Darcy Vescio and Meg Hutchins were among those supporting the move to change the AFL sign on Wednesday
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan, whose pro-gay marriage views are well known, stressed the importance of the league’s support for the ‘yes’ campaign on Tuesday
When a businessman offered in 2014 to pay for billboards at AFL matches calling for humanitarian aid in Gaza, the league deemed it to be too political.
‘Political statements, whether they are state politics, federal politics and international politics’, are not excepted by the AFL, a spokesman said at the time.
The proposed advertisements, to be shown at three Adelaide Crows’ home games, would have read ‘Help the children of Palestine’.
Although the Crows administration approved, the AFL knocked back the proposal, claiming it was a political statement.
A businessman offered in 2014 to pay for billboards at Adelaide Crows’ games which called for humanitarian aid in Gaza. The league deemed it to be too political. Pictured, the Crows’ current home ground, the Adelaide Oval
The proposed advertisements, to be shown at three Adelaide Crows’ home games, would have read ‘Help the children of Palestine’. Children are pictured in Gaza
‘All of a sudden, it’s been dragged down this road of a political activist campaign, which it’s not,’ Daniel Milky, who proposed the billboards, told the ABC at the time.
‘It’s simply a humanitarian call-out to get people to donate to help these poor children in that region.’
The organisation made a resounding and highly-controversial statement when it changed the logo at league headquarters to ‘YES’ on Wednesday.
From ‘the AFL has no right to be involved,’ to ‘sport and politics shouldn’t mix’ and ‘just worry about the footy,’ the move was widely criticised by fans and former players.
The sign was taken down just hours later, though the league said the removal had nothing to do with the backlash.
But many football fans across the country have pointed out the organisation’s same-sex marriage stance is in itself hypocritical.
The AFL made a resounding statement in support of marriage equality, taking the unprecedented step of changing its logo at league headquarters to ‘YES’
The move has caused a stir online, with many suggesting the league should not be pushing a political agenda. Others backed the move
Etihad Airways was handed the naming rights to the Docklands stadium in Melbourne in 2009.
It holds the contact until 2019 and there is an option for the airline to extend that deal.
Etihad Aviation Group is owned by the government of Abu Dhabi, where homosexual sex may be punishable by death.
‘Sorry, but until you reject sponsorship dollars from Etihad Airlines, which is owned by a government that can punish same-sex sexual activity with death, this is pure tokenism,’ one fan wrote.
‘If the AFL believed in equality they wouldn’t be partnering with a government-owned company known for abusing gays,’ another said.
Etihad Airways was handed the naming rights to the Docklands stadium in Melbourne in 2009
Etihad Aviation Group is owned by the government of Abu Dhabi, where homosexual sex may be punishable by death
Many fans hit back at the AFL’s support of same-sex marriage, calling it hypocritical
One person wrote ‘if the AFL is so emphatic to take the supposed higher ground they should cut their ties with Etihad’
‘An AFL major sponsor is Etihad, based in the UAE, where homosexuality is a crime,’ another person wrote
‘Due to Abu Dhabis (sic) stand on homosexuality, will the AFL be taking naming rights back in regard to Etihad Stadium?’ yet another asked.
AFL Media Relations Manager Patrick Keane refused to comment on the issue when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.
‘We’re not interested in continuing to talk about the debate,’ he said.
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan, whose pro-gay marriage views are well known, stressed the importance of the league’s support for the ‘yes’ campaign on Tuesday.
‘This is an issue that means a lot to many of our players and many of my employees and a lot of people in the community,’ he told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 program.
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan has stressed the importance of the league’s support for the ‘yes’ campaign
‘I think our position is that we need to have a strong statement – even if it was only for our staff – but I think it’s broader than that.
‘People should get out and vote and have their view, but this something that actually talks to a core value of ours which is actual equality.’
He said he was on the record as saying he is ‘strongly yes.’