Skip to main content

AFL Broadcaster apologises after coin-toss jibe at plane crash victim

MELBOURNE:  A prominent Australian Rules football broadcaster has apologised after drawing criticism for mocking a pre-game coin-toss by a plane crash victim ahead of a match between Sydney Swans and Adelaide Crows.

Cynthia Banham, a respected academic and Sydney Swans ambassador who had both her legs amputated after a plane crash in Indonesia in 2007, appeared to struggle as she tossed the coin while holding her walking stick before the Australian Football League (AFL) match in Sydney on Friday.

Coins are tossed in the middle of the football pitch before AFL games, with the away team’s captain calling the toss. The winning captain chooses which end his team will kick towards, taking into account weather conditions.

Veteran AFL broadcaster Eddie McGuire joked on air during Fox Footy’s pre-match coverage that people who could not toss the coin properly should be fined.

“I think we should introduce a $5,000 fine to anybody who’s tossing the coin and can’t do it properly,” McGuire said, drawing laughter from his fellow commentators covering the match.

“Every week, we have someone dropping it on their foot. Come on, toss it up properly, for goodness sake. Practise in the week, you know you’re going to do it. It can’t be that hard can it, guys?”

McGuire’s comments were condemned by the Sydney Swans and pilloried on social media.

“The Sydney Swans are incredibly disappointed by inappropriate comments made tonight by Eddie McGuire,” the Swans said in a statement.

“The comments show not only a lack of empathy, but also ignorance.”

McGuire apologised on air and later issued a statement saying he had decided to withdraw from calling Saturday’s match between Essendon Bombers and St Kilda saints in Melbourne.

“I am deeply sorry and regretful for the comments I made last night about the coin tossing system,” McGuire said on Saturday. “I should never have spoken without properly viewing the footage.

“I unreservedly apologise to Cynthia, her family and the Sydney Football Club for the pain and hurt that my comments have caused.”

Fox Sports, which owns the Fox Footy channel, described McGuire’s comments as ‘disappointing’ and also apologised.

McGuire, who is the long-serving president of the Melbourne-based AFL team Collingwood Magpies, has previously drawn criticism for a number of on-air gaffes.

In 2016, he was condemned by women’s groups for making a joke on radio about paying money to see a local female football journalist drowned in a tub of icy water.

Three years before that, McGuire apologised for suggesting on radio that former Sydney Swans player Adam Goodes, an Aboriginal Australian, be used to promote the musical ‘King Kong’.

The gaffe occurred just days after Goodes had been racially abused during a game by a young Collingwood fan in the terraces.

The post AFL Broadcaster apologises after coin-toss jibe at plane crash victim appeared first on ARYNEWS.



from ARYNEWS https://ift.tt/2TM7YMV
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Today’s outlook: Sindh CM discusses reopening markets with PM Khan

Here are some of the stories we are expecting to follow today (Thursday): Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah will take Prime Minister Imran Khan into confidence over reopening shops and markets across the province. The reopened markets will have to follow SOPs. Sindh Transport Minister Awais Qadir Shah will discuss SOPs with transporters for resuming public transport in the coming days. The meeting will be held at the Sindh Assembly building at 1:30pm. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority has proposed a price cut of Rs20.68 per litre for petrol in its summary. Imam-e-Kaaba Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais has said Masjid Al Haram and Masjid Al Nabawi will be reopened for worshipers soon. He said the Kaaba is being sterilised using latest technologies. Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar will head various meetings during his visit to Bahawalpur. As of Thursday, Pakistan has reported more than 15,500 confirmed coronavirus cases. ICYMI: An amendment to the National Accountability Or...
Post a Comment
Read more

Today’s outlook: Federal Cabinet discusses COVID-19, Islamabad eases lockdown

Here are some of the news stories we are expecting to follow today (Tuesday): Prime Minister Imran Khan will chair a meeting of the Federal Cabinet in Islamabad to discuss the current situation in the country because of the novel coronavirus. The Cabinet will approve decisions made in the last Economic Coordination Committee meeting along with a relief package for journalists. The Islamabad High Court will hear a case pertaining to giving relief to textile mills in paying their electricity bills. The court had asked the mill owners to ensure a guarantee that they’ll not lay off any daily wage worker. The Sindh government has resumed operations of 153 more factories. They have directed them to follow all SOPs. The Islamabad administration has eased the lockdown. Hiking trails and parks across the federal capital have been reopened for the public. Sindh Governor Imran Ismail has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. He is the second politician from Sindh, after Education Minis...
Post a Comment
Read more

Rouhani calls Imran, discusses resumption of trade

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran on Wednesday discussed full resumption of bilateral trade, which was halted last month because of the Covid-19 pandemic. “The two sides stressed the need to reactivate borders and border markets and strengthen trade ties by following health guidelines,” a statement issued by the Iranian presidency on the telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Dr Hassan Rouhani said. President Rouhani had called the prime minister for Ramazan greetings. Border trade between the two countries was suspended after a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC), held on March 13, decided to close all borders because of the pandemic. Islamabad partially relaxed the restrictions on April 21, allowing the import of certain food items and provision of petrol and diesel to the border areas. Cargo traffic from Iran was allowed for three days every week. Cargo movement between the two countries takes place through five border crossings — Taftan...
Post a Comment
Read more