The Sydney Swans has come under fire for the ‘hypocritical’ decision to switch its Pride Game away from the clash against St Kilda.
Unhappy with the Saints‘ handling of the Lance Collard situation, the club on Wednesday announced it instead would host the annual match three weeks later against the Bulldogs.
Social media lit up with criticism of the decision, given the Swans only months ago ended a decade-long partnership with Qatar Airways.
READ MORE: Banned Olympic medallist’s lingerie post hints at career change
READ MORE: ‘Never works out’: Piastri warned against Red Bull switch
READ MORE: Giddey blow as $150m Aussie undergoes surgery
The Sydney Swans have come under fire for the ‘hypocritical’ decision to move its Pride Game away from the clash with St Kilda. Getty/X
In March, the Bloods announced Virgin Australia – the AFL’s own airline partner – would take over.
But fans were quick to point out Qatar Airways has a 23 per cent ownership stake in VA, and the decision was akin to an outfit change.
Qatar Airways is owned and operated by the Qatari government, which still criminalises homosexuality. Under the Emirati’s criminal code, “sodomy” and “sexual intercourse” between people of the same sex carries a penalty of up to seven years in jail.
On X, cricket commentator and ABC producer Darren Parkin labelled the Swans’ move as “hypocrisy on a nuclear level”, while former Victorian Labor MP Philip Dalidakis said it was “performative BS” and an “own goal”. National Correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age Rob Harris also made light of the hypocrisy.
The Sydney Swans website had prominent branding from Qatar Airways. Sydney Swans
In a statement, a Swans spokesperson said the Qatar partnership “ended naturally” at the end of last season, and the club took “a range of factors” into consideration before signing fresh corporate deals. The club also did not accept the optics of the Virgin deal could be considered poor.
In 2022, football legend David Beckham came under fire for accepting a role as an ambassador for the FIFA World Cup held in Qatar that year. Beckham was viewed as a strong ally within the LGBTIQA+ community, but was subsequently ostracised for taking the role, for which he was reportedly paid up to $25 million.
Since taking over from Qatar, Virgin Australia branding has appeared in the goal square at Swans home games at the SCG as well as digital billboards around the stadium.
The Swans have held a Pride Game at the SCG annually since 2016 – the same year it launched the partnership with Qatar, which included prominent Qatar branding at SCG home games, as well as the Swans website.
Virgin Australia has prominent branding during Swans home games at the SCG. Getty
The Swans are also prominent within the LGBTIQA+ community, and have a large presence at the annual Mardi Gras parade in Sydney, organised by the club’s Rainbow Swans group.
The Swans spokesperson said the club worked closely with the Rainbow Swans “on a range of topics, including our Pride Game”.
Collard was hit with a lengthy nine-game ban that was later reduced to two weeks following an investigation into his use of homophobic slurs during a VFL game.
The Saints supported their young player throughout the investigation and lengthy tribunal hearings. Collard and the club maintains he is innocent.
The Swans will now play their Pride Game against the Western Bulldogs in round 17.