A secret 35-page report has found there to be "systemic racism within the Collingwood Football Club", addressing several issues within the culture of the club, per The Herald Sun.ย
The report was conducted by professors Larissa Behrendt and Lindon Coombes following 30 interviews, with the review following claims made by former defender Heritier Lumumba.
It is reported that Lumumba did not wish to take part in the process for the report, with his claims not taken into the review.
The report read that Collingwood's response to the several incidents were "at best ineffective, or at worst exacerbated the impactโ.
โThere is a gap between what Collingwood Football Club says it stands for and what it does.
โWhile claims of racism have been made across the AFL, there is something ยญdistinct and egregious about Collingwood's history.
โThere is a culture of individuals, if not quite being bigger than the club, then at least having an unhealthy ยญdegree of influence over club culture.โ
The review found a link between racism within the AFL and past incidents involving the Collingwood Football Club.
โCollingwood has become synonymous with off-field and on-field racism in Australian sport," the report says.
โAs one person we spoke to said: โIf you look at every high-profile incident of racism in the game, Collingwood is there somewhere'.โ
The club received the "Do Better" report in mid-December and have appointed a First Nations person to their board.
