Collingwood CEO Faces Racism Allegations

Collingwood Football Club's CEO Craig Kelly is facing serious allegations of racism, detailed in court documents filed by Mark Cleaver, the former head of the club's First Nations strategy. Cleaver accuses Kelly of making several racist remarks, including joking about putting Indigenous players in a room with a 'live f***ing possum' and derogatory comments about Aboriginal elder Aunty Carol Thorpe. Additionally, Kelly allegedly made a remark about an Asian woman while driving and suggested sending a 'Free Palestine' photo to a Jewish colleague. These claims arise amidst ongoing scrutiny of the club following a 2021 report aimed at addressing racism within its ranks. Legal representatives have called for the AFL to consider penalizing Collingwood should the allegations be proven true, emphasizing the need for accountability in a league that promotes social change. The situation raises concerns about whether the club has truly learned from its past racism scandals.