Eddie McGuire: “I’ll cop it on the chin, I was wrong.” Rang Adam Goodes to apologise.
Speaking at a media conference this afternoon after his unintended racist comment on the Triple M breakfast show (see our earlier story), Eddie McGuire repeated his apology to Adam Goodes, footy fans and Triple M listeners.
“I’m here today to publicly apologise to Adam Goodes for the hurt that I caused him. I made a slip of the tongue, I wasn’t even thinking. I was thinking the exact opposite of what I said.
“It has cut me to the core. I spoke to Adam, I couldn’t have offered any more sympathy, not for myself but for the position I’ve put him in. I put my foot in it, and and I’m here today happy to cop any criticism. I made a mistake this morning and I let myself down, but the ramifications are greater than that… I made that comment, it was unintentional, I’m a responsible and experienced broadcaster. I was tired this morning…
“All the indigeneous footballers who’ve looked to me in the past will look and say ‘what’s this about’ so that’s why I stand here today. I stand for equality. It burns me to the core that I would be associated with anything that could be related to vilification. I’m happy to take reponsibility, but people have to understand that it was a mistake.”
McGuire told assembled media at the Triple M Boardroom in South Melbourne that he contacted Adam Goodes after this morning’s show, and that Goodes was upset but was “gracious enough” to take his call.
Goodes expressed his disappointment to McGuire, “particularly given what we’ve been through together last weekend,” referring to racist comments by the 13 year old girl and the AFL’s attempts to counter racism.
“I accept that I made a blue. I’ve fronted up here today and I’ll cop it on the chin. I apologise unconditionally,” said McGuire.
See a complete video of McGuire’s media conference here.
Goodes’ Twitter followers also expressed their indignation with McGuire’s comments today. A selection of their posts is below.
