Some very famous faces from the NRL and AFL – plus a couple of sporting greats – were among the huge crowd of people who marched in support of Palestinians in Sydney on Sunday, with one of the biggest names in Aussie Rules copping praise and criticism from fans for his involvement.
More than 90,000 braved the rain on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, as thousands more took part in similar rallies in Melbourne and Adelaide to voice their concerns about what’s happening in the Gaza Strip.
High–profile participants at the Sydney protest included Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, former Labor foreign affairs minister and NSW Premier Bob Carr, and federal Labor MP Ed Husic.
They were joined by Penrith Panthers premiership winners Mitch Kenny and Izack Tago, Sydney Swans star Errol Gulden, NRL great Anthony Mundine and former Socceroos star Craig Foster.
High–profile Sydney lawyer Adam Houda shared a photo of Kenny and Tago at the march, drawing praise from the stars from the majority of commenters.
Tago and Kenny put up pics and video of the march on their Instagram accounts.
Sydney Swans star Errol Gulden (pictured with partner Grace Scott) was praised and slammed by footy fans for attending the pro–Palestine march in Sydney on Sunday
Pictured: The Instagram post Gulden put up as he joined almost 100,000 people on the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Penrith Panthers stars Mitch Kenny (left) and Izack Tago (right) were also front and centre at the huge show of support for the people of Gaza
‘Respect to these lads for showing their true humanity. Adding these 2 players to my favourites now!’ one wrote.
‘Respect for them both as they both came from their game last night from Queensland. They could simply recover but chose to walk amongst the crowd,’ wrote another, referring to Penrith playing on the Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon.
However, it was a different story when Gulden’s presence at the march was brought up on X, with AFLW fan @PollyPorridge posting a grab of Gulden’s Instagram pic of the protest and calling the Swans star ‘a hot new woke (future) captain’.
‘And this is precisely why politics and sport should not mix,’ one commenter said.
‘This will please the vocal minority and their echo chambers on here but I’m disappointed that Errol was walking supporting Hamas terrorists yesterday. You can agree or disagree, hate Israel or hate Jews, but he just alienated himself to large % of the Sydney conservative fan base,’ added another.
‘Woke FC building quite a list here. 21st club?’ a third commenter wrote.
Others baselessly accused Gulden of sympathising with terrorists and Hamas as they brought up his Turkish heritage.
However, the Bloods star also found some support online, with other commenters calling his decision to attend ‘iconic’, writing, ‘I love Errol even more now!’ and, ‘A young and educated leader, on and off the field. That’s my captain.’
Former Socceroos star Craig Foster (pictured right with Julian Assange, centre) addressed the massive crowd
Footy and boxing great Anthony Mundine was full of praise for Sydneysiders as he claimed up to 500,000 marched on the bridge
Mundine has long backed Palestine and sent Sydneysiders a message congratulating them on the march.
‘Mad turnout by Sydney,’ he said on Instagram.
‘There was at least three, four, maybe 500,000 – don’t believe the media talking about 100,000.
‘Well done Sydney, man, fighting for Palestine and Gaza.’
Foster – who has also been vocal in his support for an end to the war in Gaza – addressed the crowd during the march.
‘I thank and congratulate all who yesterday showed the immense strength of the Australian conscience and urge everyone to join together as a powerful, collective force against all hatred, violence and racism, for equal rights for all, and for Australia as a consistent and powerful actor for a just and peaceful world,’ Foster wrote on X.
