Kathrine Frich
He noted several players were born in refugee camps.
Sport usually brings a country together, packing out pubs and living rooms as fans cheer for the exact same colours.
For a few hours, old political rivalries take a back seat. But sometimes the final whistle just blows the starting horn for a fresh culture war.
A post-match clash
The Socceroos pulled off a stunning 2-0 victory against Turkey at the World Cup on Sunday. Fans celebrated the massive win across Australia.
The joy was short-lived online. Political figures from the left quickly pointed out the deep multicultural roots of the national football team. They aimed their frustration squarely at supporters of Pauline Hanson.
According to the Daily Mail, former politicians used social media to blast conservative voters, arguing that strict border policies completely clash with the reality of a diverse sporting squad.
Drawing a hard line
Former Labor member of parliament John Kennedy took to X to list the team’s diverse heritage. He noted several players were born in refugee camps.
He did not hold back.
“If you support One Nation, then don’t support the Socceroos. Just be a racist, not a racist hypocrite,” Kennedy wrote.
Hannah Thomas, a former Greens candidate, echoed the sentiment on Instagram.
“One Nation would deport half the Socceroos and defund SBS so we couldn’t even watch them,” she wrote. Thomas added that anyone who enjoyed the win “shouldn’t be on team Pauline.”
Hitting back at critics
Supporters of One Nation flooded social media with angry replies. They vigorously defended their right to cheer for the national team on the world stage.
Barnaby Joyce also waded into the debate on Sky News. The National Party heavyweight pushed back against the criticism by offering his own take on Australian identity.
“I would suggest that every person in Australia at some stage has immigrant blood in them,” Joyce said.
Faces of the nation
The makeup of the Socceroos speaks for itself. Players like Nestory Irankunda and Awer Mabil were born in African refugee camps. Others hail from places like Scotland, Italy, and Croatia.
Shortly before the tournament, the team released a video celebrating this exact diversity.
The squad made their stance clear. They called themselves a true reflection of modern Australia. And regardless of who sits in parliament, they are the ones scoring the goals.
Sources: Daily Mail, Sky News, X, Instagram
