The Sydney Swans have admitted to editing a pre-match tribute to victims of the Bondi terror attack, removing a reference to the Jewish community. The club issued a fresh apology on Monday, describing the change as an 'error of judgment'.
The tribute took place before the Swans' season-opening AFL match against Carlton at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Chief executive Matthew Pavlich led the ceremony, which honoured victims and first responders, some of whom were present on the field.
Journalist and former player Gerard Healy revealed that Pavlich's speech had been altered to delete the mention of the Jewish community. The Swans initially faced criticism, prompting multiple apologies.
In a statement, the club said there was 'no directive or instruction from the AFL to remove or change the reference to the Jewish Community'. It added that the change was made internally in a 'genuine effort to use inclusive language' by referring to the 'whole community'.
The AFL has been referred to a royal commission on antisemitism by Liberal senator James Paterson, who called for an investigation into the incident. Paterson said it would be 'ridiculous and weird' not to acknowledge the attack was on Jewish Australians.
AFL boss Andrew Dillon previously declined to clarify whether the league was involved in editing the script, but noted that the ceremony was an 'appropriate forum' to pay tribute to victims.
