HEATH Shaw could be in trouble again after being caught on microphones calling an opponent “a f—ing retard”.
The Giants defender sledged Swans forward Tom Papley during the third quarter of a fiery Sydney derby at the SCG.
Papley was heading to the bench after a tangle with Shaw in which he put the former Magpie in a headlock.
TV microphones pick up Shaw yelling: “you might as well stay up there you f—ing retard.”
Tom Papley puts Heath Shaw in a headlock. Picture: Gregg PorteousSource:News Corp Australia
The comment drew an immediate reaction on social media with most labelling it unacceptable, although some fans weren’t concerned and instead turned their fire on the “PC brigade”.
Jason Dunstall apologised for Shaw’s language during the broadcast.
Michael Christian, a member of the match review panel, was calling the game for 3AW and said Shaw “might’ve crossed the line with those comments”. He said the incident would be looked at by the AFL’s football operations boss Simon Lethlean, not the MRP.
GWS coach Leon Cameron said he and the club would review the incident before he made any comment.
“I don’t know the level of detail, so we’ll use the next 24 hours to have a really good discussion about actually what happened,” he said.
“We’ll look at it, see whether it was right or wrong and then you deal with it, thats all you can do.”
@BrandonMcKay6 Wake up Heath Shaw! Disgraceful. @GWSGIANTS@Robbo_heraldsun
— Morsey (@morsey82) April 22, 2017
laughing at everyone over reacting about @heathshaw23 comment… 😂😂😂 #AFLSwansGiants
— kalinda franklin (@kindybindy) April 22, 2017
Australian tennis player Bernard Tomic caused a storm at Wimbledon last year after saying at a press conference he “had to stand on court like a retard” during a rain delay.
At the time Learning disability charity Mencap said many people didn’t realise how offensive that word is.
“I’d like the player to apologise and would encourage him to meet people with a learning disability so he can understand why the word is so damaging and offensive,” Mencap officer Ciara Lawrence told News Corp.
“I am sick and tired of people in high-profile positions who are respected by the public using this word. It can make the public and people who look up to sports stars think it is OK to use words like this when it’s not.”
Shaw was involved in several controversial incidents during his time at Collingwood including being suspended for breaking AFL betting rules and being involved in a car crash with teammate Alan Didak in 2008. But he has largely steered clear of scandal since joining the Giants in 2014.
Originally published as Mics pick up Shaw’s ‘disgraceful’ sledge
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