The Sydney Swans have issued another apology for what they describe as a significant 'error of judgment' that led to the Jewish community being omitted from a pre-match tribute honouring victims of the Bondi terror attack. This tribute took place during the opening round AFL match between Sydney and Carlton at the SCG, where players and officials observed a moment's silence.
Club Accepts Full Responsibility for Script Change
In a statement released on Monday, the club explicitly stated that there was no directive or instruction from the AFL to remove or alter the reference to the Jewish community in the script. The Sydney Swans acknowledged that the change was made internally within the club, with the intention of using inclusive language by referring to the 'whole community' instead. The club emphasised that the focus of the script was to recognise those present on the field that night, which included members of the Jewish community, community heroes, and first responders.
Political and Public Reaction to the Omission
Liberal senator James Paterson has referred the AFL to the royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion following the incident. Speaking to Sky News, Paterson expressed concern over the script alteration, stating, 'It would be ridiculous and weird to have any sort of acknowledgment that didn't recognise the fact that it was an attack on Jewish Australians.' He further noted that it is an even greater problem if someone saw the word Jewish in the statement and decided to remove it.
AFL boss Andrew Dillon did not clarify whether the league was involved in editing the tribute script when questioned over the weekend. Dillon commented on SEN, 'I don't know the ins and outs of scripts. Matthew [Pavlich] did a great job of hosting that ceremony. It was the appropriate forum, and it paid tribute to the victims of a horrific attack on the Jewish community.'
Multiple Apologies and Ongoing Scrutiny
The club has apologised multiple times since journalist and former player Gerard Healy revealed that Sydney's chief executive, Matthew Pavlich, had delivered a speech that was edited to remove references to the Jewish community. Before the Swans' season-opening game, Pavlich led a tribute to victims of the Bondi attack and first responders, some of whom joined the teams on the field.
In his letter to Virginia Bell, who is leading the royal commission, Paterson wrote, 'the reported involvement of AFL staff in this incident should be closely examined as part of the commission's inquiries into the nature and prevalence of antisemitism in Australia.' The AFL has been contacted for further comment regarding the incident and its implications.
