Key PointsEddie Betts has spoken publicly for the first time about the racial abuse his children were subjected to this week. The AFL great’s sons and their friends had a racial slur yelled at them while playing basketball at his home.Betts said the incident against his children hit him “a lot harder” than the racial abuse he’d received in the past.
AFL legend Eddie Betts says the racial abuse directed at his children while playing basketball at their home will stick with him and his sons for the rest of their lives.
Support continues flooding in for the family of Betts after
, showing a white car driving by as the youngsters and their friends played basketball.
“I think this one hits a lot harder than all the racial abuse that I’ve had over my years because it’s directed at my kids with such hatred,” an exasperated Betts told Fox Footy on Saturday night.
“The kids are fine now. They were shaken up a bit. They’re too scared to go out and play basketball at night.
“I’m glad that I brought awareness to this because if I didn’t you wouldn’t have known what happened.
“This continues to happen to Aboriginal people all over the country.
“I just want the people who’ve done this and you’ve drove past my house to yell abuse at my kids, it is hurtful.
“This will stick with them my children for the rest of their lives and the rest of my life.”
Betts vowed to keep calling out racial abuse after a man is heard in the video is heard repeatedly shouting a racial slur, before the children leave the basketball court.
“We’ve got to keep calling it out. It is exhausting,” said the 350-gamer, who retired from the AFL in 2021.
“I know I’ve called this out many, many times. I will still stand here in front of everybody and put my face to it … educate and continue to educate because we need to stamp out racism in Australia altogether.”
Community expresses support
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon and general manager for inclusion Tanya Hosch said the behaviour has no place in sport or society.
“We must express our strongest condemnation against another example of overt racism, this time targeting children playing sport in their own front yard,” the pair
.
AFL club Carlton, where Betts played more than 300 games, said the incident was vile and it stood in solidarity with the family.
“The footage Eddie and his family were brave enough to release is devastating, confronting and provides just a snapshot of the impact such cowardly behaviour can have,” a statement read.
“Absolutely nobody, especially children, should ever be subjected to what was heard in that video.”
A Victoria Police spokesperson said it was investigating after receiving information relating to the incident in Melbourne’s southeast on Thursday night.
Betts’ post drew thousands of messages of support and horrified reactions with the Western Bulldogs commenting: “Disgraceful. Sending love Eddie.”
The AFL Players Association described the incident as “awful” and offered support to Betts, while Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan labelled it “sickening and disgusting”.
He was repeatedly subjected to racist abuse online throughout his career and had a banana thrown at him during a match at Adelaide Oval in 2016.
At his retirement announcement, Betts said he was tired of fighting racism and declared
.
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