Why AFL star Heritier Lumumba rejected Collingwood Magpies boss Jeff Browne over systemic racism
Revealed: What angry ex-Collingwood star Heretier Lumumba said to club president when he tried to apologize for his racist treatment at Indigenous ceremony officiated by Nicky Winmar
- Heritier Lumumba strikes back Pies
- President tried to give olive branch
- The ex-Magpie rejected approach
Ex-Magpies star Heritier Lumumba has rejected an approach from club chairman Jeff Browne to mend the rift created by systemic racism suffered by the 2010 premiership player while at the club.
During an emotional ceremony on Tuesday to mark Native legend Nicky Winmar’s courageous stance on horrific racist abuse he received in a match from Collingwood supporters 30 years ago, Lumumba reportedly flipped Browne’s olive branch.
The ex-Magpies star cut all ties with the club he won a flag with and became an All Australian defender due to the horrific and persistent racism he experienced at the club, confirmed by the now infamous ‘Do Better’ report .
Browne, who became president in 2021, was not at the club when Lumumba claims he was nicknamed ‘Chimpanzee’, among a host of other racist treatments.
But that didn’t stop the Magpies’ supremo from working it out with Lumumba, who still insists he wants nothing to do with the club he was with from 2005-2014.
Heritier Lumumba attended a ceremony Tuesday evening to mark Winmar’s stance against racism 30 years ago, reportedly rejecting an attempt by the Collingwood president to reconnect
Lumumba was with the club from 2005 to 2014, winning a premiership and an All Australian blazer, but has since cut ties with the club due to the systemic racism he received.
Collingwood president Jeff Browne (left, pictured last season with coach Craig McRae) tried to talk to Lumumba on Tuesday night but was beaten back
After Winmar’s emotional ceremony marking the moment he lifted his jersey and pointed to his skin, one of the sport’s most iconic moments, Browne attempted to approach Lumumba, according to SEN.
The Pies defender, who finished his career with the Demons and retired after several headbutts, refused to speak to the president, telling him to “please respect my space.”
Browne seems to have, but regardless, Collingwood, aware of the ongoing public relations nightmare, disputes this version of events.
Lumumba spoke to current Magpies skipper Darcy Moore, who along with Winmar officiated at the ceremony, which was attended by more than 1,000 people at the club’s original Victoria Park home, Collingwood.
Last year, after the Do Better Report was released the year before, Lumumba was furious that the club was not doing more and vowed to move on and cut all ties.
Judging by his refusal of Browne’s attempt to get his hands on an olive branch, despite getting no indication that it would be well received, that’s a position he hasn’t wavered from.
Lumumba, pictured with his wife Aja, has cut all ties with his former club Collingwood since the ‘Do Better’ report was released
“Throughout the years there has been only one mission: to tell and defend my truth,” he said last year.
“The evidence has only been released because individuals have continually undermined the severity of the harm I experienced during my time at CFC, as well as the findings of the ‘Do Better’ report.
“I always reserve the right to defend myself, especially after I’ve worked so hard to overcome that I’ve been… discredited.
“They will now have to bear the burden of what they tried to deny all these years, and face the reality that they were unable to put it right.”