Footy Show co-host Sam Newman has torn the AFL administration to shreds in a controversial attack on Australia's Muslim community. Photos / Getty Images
Footy Show co-host Sam Newman has torn the AFL administration to shreds in a controversial attack on Australia's Muslim community. Photos / Getty Images
Footy show co-host Sam Newman has torn the AFL administration to shreds in a controversial attack on Australia's Muslim community.
The shockwaves of Senator Fraser Anning's debut parliamentary speech last week in which he called for a ban on Muslim immigration and a return to the White Australia policy continuedon Wednesday as Newman declared Australia's Muslim community shares "no common values" with traditional Australian society.
Newman told his Sam, Mike and Thommo podcast this week he has concerns surrounding what he says is the Australian Muslim community's failure to "nationalise" — creating a divided community.
Sam Newman told his podcast this week he has concerns surrounding what he says is the Australian Muslim community's failure to "nationalise" - creating a divided community. Photo / Getty Images
"They don't generally nationalise, they colonise," Newman said.
"There are 600,000 Muslims in Australia, they share no common interest with what we're on about.
"They have no common values, they preach to a different, deity, god.
"This has been a huge problem in Europe and it's beginning to be a huge problem in America."
Newman's comments surrounds a decision from the Essendon Football Club and Richmond Football club to stage a display of multicultural inclusion last Friday night.
Bombers star Adam Saad and Bachar Houli embraced in a hug during the toss of the coin at the MCG before Richmond's win over the Bombers.
The AFL reportedly supported the idea, but did not once link the display with Anning's controversial speech.
Newman also described Saad and Houli as "fine young men" and "fine young "Muslims".
Newman said the AFL is playing with fire with its insistence of "inserting itself" into Australia's political debate.
He said the AFL has routinely put half of its fan base offside by taking a public stand on complex societal and political issues.
"When you insert yourself into the political arena to lecture people on their politics and to tell people what they should be thinking then you make a rod for your own back," Newman said.
Bachar Houli of the Tigers and Adam Saad of the Bombers embrace before the coin toss during the 2018 AFL round 22 match. Photo / Getty Images
"Because you then invite people to disrespect the flag, the anthem and the nation by doing what the NFL do in America and that's to sit down or take a knee and it shows that you aren't patriotic and it becomes a hornet's nest.
"Keep out of our minds... let people go to the games and not be lectured on politics by the AFL, the NRL the basketball or anyone else.
"People do not want to be told what they should think.
"They just need to put a game on and get the rules right and get it umpired properly and get a match review system that's competent. That's all they have to do. Keep out of our lives."
Newman also suggested he has doubts surrounding Lance Franklin's decision to take a leave of absence from the game before the 2015 finals series as a result of mental health issues.
"If you remember he missed the finals series because he said he was ... it seems strange that he missed the finals, went out about a week before the finals and recovered over the summer," Newman said.
Veteran footy journalist Mike Sheahan then asked: "You think there's an ulterior motive do you?"
Newman responded: "Yeah I do. I think that's very suspicious".
