Anti-racism campaigners are demanding public apologies from South Melbourne, Melbourne Victory and Football Australia after fans booed the Welcome to Country before Saturday night’s Australia Cup final.
Wurundjeri elder Uncle Colin Hunter Jr was delivering the ceremony at AAMI Park when boos rang out from sections of the crowd ahead of the all-Melbourne showdown.
The ugly scenes overshadowed one of the greatest nights in Australian domestic football history, with South Melbourne becoming the first NPL club to lift the Australia Cup.
The former NSL powerhouse took Victory to extra time, came from 1-0 down to equalise at the death, and then won 4-3 on penalties in front of a sellout crowd of 29,911.
The result has sparked calls for South to be elevated to the A-League. But by Sunday, the conversation had turned to what happened before kick-off.
An online campaign launched in the public Australians Against Racism Facebook group is urging supporters to contact both clubs and the tournament’s governing body and demand accountability.
Wurundjeri elder Uncle Colin Hunter Jr delivered the Welcome to Country before Saturday night’s final at AAMI Par
The Football Supporters Association Australia condemned the booing and jeering as ‘deeply disappointing’
Anti-racism campaigners have demanded public apologies from South Melbourne, Melbourne Victory and Football Australia.
Group administrator Frankie Antispe described the booing as an insult to the elder and a reminder of racism in Australian sport.
‘As an anti-racism community, we cannot let this slide,’ Antispe wrote.
He called on South Melbourne, Melbourne Victory and Football Australia to explicitly condemn the booing, issue formal public apologies, and hold those responsible to account.
The campaign supplied phone numbers and email addresses for club executives, along with suggested wording for complaints.
‘What immediate steps is the club taking to publicly condemn this behaviour, issue an official apology and ensure your members are held accountable?’ the suggested phone script read.
Supporters were encouraged to share the appeal with local football groups and to call during business hours while keeping their approaches respectful.
‘Let’s make sure our collective voice is louder than the booing,’ Antispe said.
The Football Supporters Association Australia also condemned the booing in a statement released on Sunday.
The body congratulated South Melbourne on becoming the first member federation club to win the trophy and praised both sets of fans for creating an atmosphere it said was worthy of any major cup final in the world.
‘However, celebration must be paired with accountability,’ the statement read.
‘The FSAA vehemently condemns the booing and jeering that occurred during the Welcome to Country ceremony prior to kickoff.
‘The Welcome to Country is a culturally significant Australian practice. It is an act designed to extend hospitality, inclusivity, unity, and respect. The hostility displayed by a section of supporters towards it was deeply disappointing.’
The FSAA said Australian football had long drawn its strength from Indigenous, migrant and multicultural communities, and that disrespecting the ceremony undermined one of the game’s greatest assets.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted South Melbourne, Melbourne Victory and Football Australia for comment.
