Eddie McGuire steps aside from AFL call as fallout deepens over insensitive coin toss comments | The New Daily: Thanks for watching, subscribe for more videos:
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire voluntarily stepped aside from Fox Footy’s AFL call on Saturday as the fallout deepened over insensitive comments he made about the coin toss of Sydney Swans’ No.1 ticket holder, double amputee Cythnia Banham. After making what the Swans described as “ignorant and inappropriate” comments about Banham’s coin toss, McGuire issued a statement on Saturday saying he requested to be dropped from the commentary team for the Essendon and St Kilda clash. “I am deeply sorry and regretful for the comments I made last night about the coin tossing system. I should never have spoken without properly viewing the footage,” the statement read on Fox Footy’s website. “Out of respect for Cynthia Banham and the Sydney Swans, I have requested not to call today’s game between Essendon and St Kilda,” he said. “I unreservedly apologise to Cynthia, her family and the Sydney Football Club for the pain and hurt that my comments have caused.” Fox Footy supported the move, and announced at 2pm on Saturday that McGuire “made a decision to step aside from his Fox Footy commentary duties”. “Out of respect for Cynthia Banham after his comments about the coin toss before Friday night’s game between Sydney Swans and Adelaide Crows, McGuire has requested not to call today’s match and has made an unreserved apology after criticising the double amputee’s flipping style. Journalist, author, solicitor and teacher Banham, who lost both her legs in a 2007 plane crash in Indonesia which killed 21 people, performed the pre-match ritual before Friday’s SCG fixture between Sydney and Adelaide. She held on to her walking stick and appeared to struggle while fulfilling the duty. McGuire clearly wasn’t aware of Banham’s background when he made his comments that it “can’t be that hard” to get it right. “I think we should introduce a $5000 fine to anybody who’s tossing the coin and can’t do it properly,” McGuire said on Fox Footy. “Every week, we have someone dropping it on their foot. Come on, toss it up properly, for goodness sake. “Practice in the week, you know you’re going to do it. It can’t be that hard can it, guys?” During halftime, McGuire was obviously briefed on Banham’s disability, and looked genuinely remorseful, apologising unreservedly to Banham her family friends, Swans supporters and viewers. The backlash on social media however was severe, with many fans, commentators and supporters saying he should be “banned” by the AFL for “mocking” a disabled person. The Swans issued a statement after the SCG clash won by the Crows saying they were “incredibly disappointed” by McGuire’s comments. “The comments show not only a lack of empathy, but also ignorance. “Cynthia Banham is a passionate Sydney Swans member, our number one ticket holder, and a courageous woman who is an inspiration to all of us at the club.” The statement said Banham was a key figure behind their Diversity Action Plan, and “regardless of who is invited to toss the coin, they ar
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