'I'm disgusted' – Carlton fans in Melbourne's north feel betrayed after mascot's sacking
AFL club faces backlash from supporters after firing its mascot for refusing to participate in a pro-Israel fundraiser.
Omar regularly attends Carlton matches, having sat through “some pretty horrific seasons”.
“I would attend the majority of the home games, but yeah, I was pretty committed to the club,” he says.
Omar comes from a family of Egyptian Muslim descent in Melbourne’s north, all of whom have been “devoted Carlton fans” for decades.
“This was the club where they felt the most comfortable and felt a sense of community.”
Melbourne’s northern suburbs are the traditional heartland of the Carlton Football Club, where it draws significant support from its culturally diverse communities – in particular, its Arab and Muslim communities.
“[But] they’re really upset about this.”
Omar is referring to the sacking of the club mascot, Captain Carlton, after he reportedly stormed out of a bar mitzvah that was raising funds for Israeli soldiers. It didn’t end there – the mascot was at the receiving end of a vicious smear campaign from pro-Israel outlet, the Herald Sun, which ran a shocking front page last Thursday calling him a “mascot of hate”.
“I’ve probably lost my diehard spirit over the last week,” Omar says. “It’s clear that they (Carlton) don’t care about their Muslim fans.”
Carlton’s actions ‘divisive’
Charlie grew up in Carlton North and currently lives in Preston. “I’m Carlton through and through,” he says.
“I’m currently still a member, although I’m wavering about whether I want to renew my membership.”
Charlie says he’s “disgusted” at the club for sacking Captain Carlton, describing it as “extremely divisive”.
“This is divisive towards what is probably their largest supporter base in the Arab community in the northern suburbs of Melbourne.”
A spokesperson for Muslim Votes Matter (MVM) says Carlton’s actions send “a clear message to many Muslim and anti-genocide supporters that their values and concerns are not only ignored but actively dismissed”.
“For a club with strong ties to multicultural communities, particularly in Melbourne’s north, this risks making Muslim and Palestinian supporters feel unwelcome, unsafe, and excluded,” the spokesperson says.
Sacking ‘pretty unfair’
An explanation of what occurred at the bar mitzvah, purportedly from the mascot, was posted on the r/CarltonBlues subreddit page – only for it to be deleted.
That hasn’t prevented a groundswell of support for Captain Carlton online, including a Reddit post calling on supporters to email the club in protest, and several fans cancelling memberships.
“I feel really bad [for Captain Carlton],” Omar says. “This worker is clearly distraught, did not want to work in an environment that was filled with people who embrace fascism and ethnic cleansing and that is not inclusive.
“To lose their work for something as small as that, it seems pretty unfair.”
Charlie says he was “super proud” to see Captain Carlton refuse to participate in the event – “but also of course very disappointed in my club that they would sack the guy for that”.
He appeared dumbfounded by the club’s response to what he saw as an ethical stand from Captain Carlton – opposition to a genocide.
“International organisations like the UN have deemed it as an actual, real genocide. Like it’s widely known, it’s not some sort of spurious claim. So for that worker to then be sacked as a result is pretty disgusting. I feel a bit sick about it all, really,” he says.
A UN Commission of Inquiry concluded in September that Israel was committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, where Israeli forces have slaughtered at least 68,527 Palestinians. Estimates suggest the actual death toll could be as high as 680,000.
The MVM spokesperson says employees like Captain Carlton “should never be put in a position where they are forced to participate in activities that not only violate their conscience but would be supporting those potentially involved in war crimes”.
Jeopardising its northern community links
In a statement published last week, Carlton said it took steps to address the matter that “aligns with our values”. For fans like Omar and Charlie, it remains unclear what those values mean in practice when their club mascot is being sent to an event supporting Israeli soldiers.
“I would like Carlton to issue an apology to the sacked worker and outline their statement on Gaza in relation to this incident,” Charlie says.
The MVM wants Carlton to “publicly state that it does not support the actions of the Israeli Defence Forces or the atrocities and genocide being committed against the Palestinian people”.
The risk for Carlton is a widening chasm with its supporter base in Melbourne’s north.
“There is a complete divide between the folks who run the club and those who actually show up and pay to be members,” Omar says.
Charlie points out that the club’s Academy catchment area is in the northern suburbs – a zone where it seeks to identify talent and strengthen support through deeper ties to multicultural communities.
“The future of the club is being a club that represents the north ... and they know it,” he says.
That requires creating an environment where those communities, including Muslims and West Asians, feel seen as equal human beings. But the club’s sacking of Captain Carlton may have had the opposite effect.
“This is a club that has done everything on paper to look like they embrace diversity and are very welcoming ... but they’re so far from that,” Omar laments.
Questions sent to Carlton
Deepcut contacted the Carlton Football Club twice, but received no response. We are publishing the questions we emailed below:
Can the Carlton Football Club confirm the employment status of the mascot? Were they employed directly by the club or contracted to perform at club-related events? What is their current status with the club?
Did the club approve the mascot’s performance at the bar mitzvah? If so, who approved it, and were they aware the event was to be a fundraiser for Israeli soldiers?
The UN Commission of Inquiry and the International Court of Justice have found that Israeli forces have committed acts of genocide and apartheid. Does the club hold concerns that its engagement with a fundraiser for Israeli soldiers – and its response to its mascot who reportedly objected on human rights grounds – could be perceived as supportive of Israeli military actions in Gaza?
In the club’s statement to the Herald Sun, it said it took steps that “align with our values.” Do those values include a commitment to human rights, and does that extend to Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims?
The Carlton Football Club has strong support among Palestinian, Lebanese and Muslim communities. Does the club hold concerns that it could alienate these communities by engaging in or being associated with fundraising activities for Israeli soldiers?
The mascot likely has a good Fair Work claim for unlawful termination or unlawful dismissal based on political belief but it needs to be made within 21 days of the dismissal. Alternatively he can bring a political discrimination claim under the Equal Opportunity Act but it is more advised to use the Fair Work Act.
I managed to speak to someone at Carlton. Membership cancelled, told them I had to take a stand on the issue of genocide. I think they got the message after 21 mins 5 secs that I was very unhappy (to say the least) with the club. Very very unhappy about this situation.