’Stamp out racism or step aside’

HERITIER Lumumba says Collingwood “must accept that it has been a racist club” and if its leaders such as Eddie McGuire cannot accept this and cannot “radically transform” the way they are viewing the issue of racism, then they “should absolutely step down”.

After a damning independent report, commissioned following a series of claims made by Lumumba, which found there was “systemic racism” at the club was leaked, Collingwood leaders on Monday conducted an extraordinary media conference.

McGuire, who will step down at the end of the year, declared it as a “day of pride” for the Magpies and claimed it proved their commitment to tackling the issue.

McGuire also said “we’re not a racist club” and disputed many of the review’s findings.

Lumumba, who lives in Los Angeles, said it proved there needed to be a “radical shift” in attitude at Collingwood.

“What we saw yesterday in the media was a complete lack of humility, a complete lack of ownership for as the report states, the serious damage or serious pain that has been inflicted on others,” he said on ABC Radio.

He said if leaders such as McGuire could not do this then they needed to step down.

“I think if individuals, as leaders, people who are faces of the club such as Eddie McGuire are unable to radically transform the way they are viewing or interacting with the issue of racism, either public or privately, then they should absolutely step down,” he said.

“They have had a long time to get this right. I was raising issues directly to them back in 2013.

“You had Leon Davis who predates me and was the first Indigenous player to play for the length he did and he did amazing things for the football club. He was raising the issues from his early days and nothing was done.”

Lumumba said his lawyers had asked for the report for six weeks but the Pies had rejected their requests.