Heidelberg United keeper Griffin McMaster has stoked the fires of the controversy surrounding the booing of AFL indigenous star player Adam Goodes.
McMaster posted a tweet on Tuesday suggesting the former Australian of the Year and Brownlow Medallist should be deported.
McMaster’s tweet, which has since been deleted from the social network, read: “Adam Goodes calls Australia Day invasion day … Deport him. If you don’t like it leave.”
McMaster has since apologised.
The controversy surrounding Goodes has widened with the increased booing of Goodes from opposition fans. The booing began after Goodes made a stand against racist abuse from spectators and commentators and increased when he recently celebrated a goal with an Indigenous war dance.
The controversy has so dominated AFL commentary this week, coming to a head with his decision to take a couple of days off as he believes it is proving too distracting to his team.
His decision has fuelled speculation that any continued booing could force him to retire before the season’s end.
Initially the controversy centred around whether the booing from opposition fans directed at Goodes was racially motivated. The Swans have made it clear that the booing from fans in Melbourne this year has been racially motivated. But some accused fans have countered by claiming that the booing is because they feel Goodes stages for free kicks.
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan admits there has been a campaign against Goodes and that it is hurting many people in the Indigenous community. When asked by The Age if he felt that the booing was racially motivated, he replied that he thought it was a complicated question and that some spectators didn’t know why they booed.
Support for Goodes is increasing amongst the players of various clubs.
The AFL Players Association boss Paul Marsh, speaking to The Age, said that any continued booing of Goodes would be seen as racist by the association.
Source: The Age