Sydney Swans Apologize Over Omission of Jewish Community References in Bondi Tribute

The Sydney Swans football club has issued multiple apologies after references to the Jewish community were removed from a pre-match tribute speech honoring victims of the Bondi terror attack. This incident prompted Liberal Senator James Paterson to refer the Australian Football League (AFL) to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.

Pre-Match Tribute Honoring Victims

On March 5, during a ceremony held before the Sydney vs. Carlton season-opening match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Sydney Swans Chief Executive Matthew Pavlich delivered a tribute speech. The speech was intended to honor individuals affected by the Bondi terror attack.

Reports indicate that an earlier version of the script included specific acknowledgments of the Jewish community, such as the phrase "We stand with the Jewish community."

The Omission and Club's Explanation

These specific references were subsequently removed from the final speech delivered by Mr. Pavlich. Former Swans player Gerard Healy publicly highlighted the omission.

The Sydney Swans stated that the script change was an internal decision made by the club and not at the direction of the AFL. The club explained that the alteration was an effort to use inclusive language by referring to the "whole community," with the intention of recognizing all individuals present, including members of the Jewish community, community heroes, and first responders.

The Swans described this decision as an "error of judgment" and an "oversight."

Club's Apology and Acceptance of Responsibility

Sydney Swans chairman Andrew Pridham and CEO Matthew Pavlich accepted full responsibility for the omission. The club issued several apologies, affirming its support for the Jewish community and acknowledging the mistake.

Rabbi Mendy Litzman of Hatzolah, a Jewish community emergency medical response group, attended the ceremony. He expressed gratitude for the Swans' hospitality and treatment of survivors, while declining to comment on the specific wording of the script.

AFL's Position on the Incident

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon acknowledged an "error of judgment" regarding the script change. Mr. Dillon initially stated he was unaware of the speech's specific contents prior to the event.

He affirmed that the ceremony appropriately paid tribute to the victims of what he described as a "horrific attack on the Jewish community." He did not specify whether the league was involved in editing the tribute script.

Royal Commission Referral

Liberal Senator James Paterson referred the AFL to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, which is led by former High Court judge Virginia Bell.

Senator Paterson's referral included a request for the commission to ask the AFL to preserve all documents and communications related to the script change, including those with the Sydney Swans. He suggested that any reported involvement of AFL staff in the incident should be examined as part of the commission’s inquiries into the prevalence of antisemitism in Australia.

Senator Paterson noted that the Bondi attack occurred at a Jewish community event, and most victims were Jewish.

The Royal Commission commenced operations recently and is scheduled to deliver an interim report by April 30.