Controversial former Footy Show host Sam Newman slams players for taking a knee before AFL match and says they were ‘intimidated’ into supporting BLM movement
- Players and umpires knelt on one knee in a stand against racism on Thursday
- Former Footy Show Host Sam Newman slammed the gesture before the match
- He said players were ‘intimidated’ into supporting the movement
A former Footy Show host has criticised AFL players who took the decision to kneel together before a game in a nod to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Richmond Tigers and Collingwood Magpies players came together as one on Thursday night and knelt down on one knee in a circle inside the centre square of the MCG moments before the season resumed for the first time in 10 weeks.
Umpires joined in on the gesture in a powerful show of solidarity for indigenous Australians and the worldwide movement against racism.
However the gesture has proved divisive among footy fans and AFL commentator Sam Newman has slammed the move.
Former Footy Show Sam Newman criticised AFL players who took the decision to kneel together before a game
Players and umpires kneel on the centre circle during the round 2 AFL match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Richmond Tigers at Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 11, 2020
Umpires joined players by forming a circle and kneeling down on one knee in the centre square
Speaking ahead of the match Newman said: ‘Apparently the players and umpires will “take a knee” before game tonight. IF that is true, how long before we stop being intimidated into nodding in agreement and question the REAL motives. The game maybe incidental,’ he wrote.
‘Don’t include EVERYONE in the mob mentality, please. AFL is sport!!’ he posted.
The commentator said the action would be seen as ‘divisive’ in the sporting community.
‘Before the AFL morph themselves completely into a political body, research some FACTS,’ he wrote.
The commentator slammed the decision of players to take a knew at the MCG match
‘McLachlan has turned himself into the Goodell of the NFL. IF you’re going to kneel, know WHY you’re kneeling. Stop the preening. It’s bulls***.
An AFL statement announced that players would be kneeling out of ‘solidarity’ for ‘our ‘indigenous brothers and sisters for all people of colour.’
‘There is no place for racism. The knee is an expression of that support, we see strength in diversity, it makes us better as a football club and as a community,’ the statement read.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan added: ‘Racism needs to be stamped out.’
However many furious fans slammed the kneel on social media.
‘Oh for goodness sake. All it is, is divisive and 100 per cent shallow. No actual action is coming from this. It’s an embarrassment,’ a fan tweeted.
Another added: ‘Mixing sport and political issues, Sorry AFL you’ve just lost me. I don’t give an iota what happens off the field but this stinks of virtue signalling.’
On Friday players from the Geelong Cats and Hawthorn Hawks took a knee before the match at Kardinia Park in Melbourne.
NRL players also decided to kneel with players from the New Zealand Warriors and the North Queensland Cowboys huddling together at Central Coast Stadium in support of the movement.
The Black Lives Matter movement has gained momentum worldwide and across Australia following the death of US man George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis last month after a police officer knelt on his neck for nine minutes.
Chad Wingard of the Hawks (right) and Mark Blicavs of the Cats (left) took a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement in round two of the AFL competition on Friday night
NRL players also decided to kneel with players from the New Zealand Warriors and the North Queensland Cowboys huddling together at Central Coast Stadium in support of the movement