Eddie McGuire has announced he will stand down as president of Collingwood Football Club.
McGuire’s position had come under severe scrutiny after his response to an internal report into racism at the club, and an open letter had circulated in recent days calling for his head.
Fronting a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, McGuire announced he would resign from the role he had held for more than 22 years.
“I try my best and I don’t always get it right, but I don’t stop trying,” he said.
“Today, effective immediately, I step down from the presidency of the Collingwood Football Club.
“From the moment I became the president of the Collingwood Football Club on my 34th birthday back in 1998, my sole motivation was to heal, unite, inspire and drive a new social conscience, not just into this club, but sport and the community in general and build an organisation that would be a place for opportunity for all people.”
McGuire highlighted some of the philanthropic work the club had carried out and infrastructure improvements that had been made during his tenure.
A tearful McGuire also addressed how he had become a “lightning rod” for criticism after calling the leaking of the Do Better report, which found systemic racism in Collingwood, a “proud and historic day” for the club.
“People have latched on to my opening line last week and as a result I have become a lightning rod for criticism, but [I] have placed the club in a position where it is hard to move forward with our plans,” he said.
More to come.
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