A West Australian country football club has issued a public apology after photos emerged of its president in a Charlie Kirk costume, featuring a gunshot wound to the neck.<\/p>\n
South Bunbury Football Club (SBFC) held an event with a “famous dead person” theme to celebrate its one-point win over Busselton in Saturday’s South West Football League (SWFL) grand final.<\/p>\n
Club president Nicky Waite was photographed at the event in a red “Make America Great Again” hat, a white shirt with “FREEDOM” written across the front, and fake blood coming from her neck.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Charlie Kirk was assassinated at a university in Utah on September 11. (Reuters: Cheney Orr)<\/p>\n
The event came two weeks after the American conservative activist was shot dead<\/a> during a speaking engagement at a university in Utah.<\/p>\n Ms Waite said she did not intend to cause offence.\u00a0<\/p>\n “I understand my costume may have been interpreted in ways that were not intended, especially when emotions and sensitivities are still quite fresh,” she said.<\/p>\n “My choice [in costume] was not meant to cause discomfort.” Nicky Waite says her costume was not intended to cause discomfort. (Sourced\/South Bunbury Football Club)<\/p>\n In a statement posted to social media, South Bunbury acknowledged the image and apologised on Ms Waite’s behalf.<\/p>\n “The choice of costume was not intended to make any political statement or commentary,” it said.<\/p>\n “Nonetheless, we recognise that the timing and nature of the portrayal were regrettable.”<\/p>\n In a joint statement, WA Football and WA Country Football confirmed they were investigating the incident.\u00a0<\/p>\n “While we encourage teams to celebrate the end of their seasons respectfully, on this occasion the dress-ups were distasteful and do not reflect the values of WA Football or Country Football WA,” it said.\u00a0<\/p>\n ‘Shocking’ timing<\/p>\n SWFL president Barry Tate said the act was careless, and issued a warning about the reach of social media.<\/p>\n “[The event] was probably on the same day he [Charlie Kirk] was getting buried<\/a> so the timing is absolutely shocking,” he said.<\/p>\n “It was meant to be a private post, but if you think private posts won’t get out in the public domain, you really have to think again.”<\/p>\n Barry Tate says the SWFL cannot take responsibility for policing individual clubs. (Supplied)<\/p>\n Mr Tate said while the league ran annual sessions around club culture and governance, it was ultimately up to individual clubs to take responsibility for their members.<\/p>\n “We go to each club at the start of the season and we do governance training, which covers social media, racism, drugs and umpire respect,” he said.<\/p>\n “It’s a South Bunbury issue \u2014 we can’t be policing all clubs and what they do.<\/p>\n “They’ve been on the front foot already and apologised for the actions of the president.”<\/p>\n The incident is the latest in a period of controversy for the club.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n