sport news Eddie McGuire claims big problem with racism accusations against Alastair ... trends now
Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has claimed Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan were ambushed by disturbing allegations they were involved in pressuring an Indigenous player to get his partner to abort their unborn child.
McGuire's take on the bombshell racism accusations against the Hawthorn club has drawn a furious response from the journalist whose report detailed the allegations, as he claims the long-time footy figure has smeared his reputation.
The shocking accusations against the Hawks were revealed after the team commissioned an external review into claims of racism, which has been delivered to the AFL.
McGuire (pictured delivering a speech earlier this year) said Clarkson and Fagan were unfairly ambushed by the shocking allegations, which include the claim that they pressured an Indigenous Hawthorn player to get his partner to abort their unborn child
An Indigenous former Hawthorn player alleged a group of senior figures at the club, including Clarkson, pressured him to get his partner to terminate her pregnancy, according to an ABC report.
The player claimed the group - which he said also featured Clarkson's then senior assistant Fagan - also urged him to break up with his partner and move into the home of an assistant coach, the report said.
Both coaches have denied the allegations and said they knew nothing about the claims until they came to light. Clarkson has delayed the start of his duties with new club North Melbourne so he can cooperate with an AFL investigation, and Fagan has stood down from his role with the Brisbane Lions.
McGuire said the pair weren't even given the 'courtesy' of being informed of the shocking accusations before they became public - echoing Clarkson's complaint that he hasn't been afforded 'due process' in the scandal.
Clarkson (left) and Fagan (pictured together in 2015 during their time at Hawthorn) have both refuted the allegations and stated that they were not consulted during the club's external review into its treatment of First Nations players
'Clarkson should have been told once they [Hawthorn] had the report ... The AFL and Hawthorn have had the report for a week with these blistering allegations, surely it should have been put to
