3 weeks ago
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Controversial AFL identity Sam Newman has hit back after being cancelled from a pending footy speaking engagement at a leading university, claiming he was canned even though he said he would avoid controversial topics and only talk about footy.
Earlier this week the former Footy Show favourite was informed he 'didn't align with the values of the people who own the venue' before his planned appearance at the Founders Theatre, which is part of the Mt Helen campus of Federation University in regional Victoria.
The ex-Geelong star was due to appear with AFL legend Sam Kekovich.
Tickets to the event on September 13 remain available online – but Newman isn't losing any sleep over the decision.
'It is a bit bemusing that a university who would pride itself I reckon on free speech deems that I'm not suitable,' Newman told News Corp.
'I never speak about anything to do with the Welcome to Country or any politics.
Controversial AFL identity Sam Newman has hit back after being axed from a footy speaking engagement
Earlier this week the former Footy Show favourite (pictured with Shane Warne) was informed he 'didn't align with the values of the people who own the venue'
Newman is no stranger to controversy - in 1999, he infamously painted his face black to impersonate Indigenous AFL footballer Nicky Winmar, after the St Kilda legend cancelled an appearance on the Footy Show
Newman (left) labelled the AFLW a 'lesbian league' during a recent episode of his 'You Cannot Be Serious' podcast with Wayne Carey (right)
'I speak about the way I played football and I speak about my media career and I'm very good at doing it.'
The Geelong great, who played 300 games for the Cats, has other speaking gigs lined up at Beaconsfield, Traralgon and Devon Meadows next month.
Newman conceded his values may differ from Federation University, namely his belief that Welcome to Country performances at sporting events are a 'hoax because it's based on activism not tradition'.
He also 'doesn't like to see trans men playing women’s sport' - but believes '90 per cent of the population' are on the same page.
In June, Newman and Wayne Carey were banned from speaking at a football club fundraising event in Barwon Heads following a backlash.
A furious Newman addressed the issue on his You Cannot Be Serious podcast, saying he and Carey 'don't give a f**k' about the decision.
'It's the weak, feckless, insipid people who run those clubs who are controlled by some activists,' he said.
He is no stranger to controversy - in 1999, Newman infamously painted his face black after Indigenous footballer Nicky Winmar cancelled an appearance on the Footy Show.
Newman also recently came under fire after he labelled the AFLW competition a 'lesbian league' in a podcast with Carey.
In the history of the men's AFL competition, no player has come out as openly gay.
It comes as Adelaide Crows star Izak Rankine is facing a five-week ban after uttering a homophobic slur at a Collingwood player on August 16.
