South Melbourne's historic Australia Cup final victory over A-League side Melbourne Victory was overshadowed after a section of the crowd booed a Welcome to Country at AAMI Park on Saturday. South Melbourne won on penalties, becoming the first National Premier Leagues club to lift the Australia Cup.
The jeering came during Uncle Colin Hunter Jr's Welcome to Country, with the booing reported to have come from a section of the crowd at the south end of the stadium.
Football Australia chief executive Martin Kugeler condemned the behaviour in a statement, saying it was "not reflective of the respect and inclusivity that define our game". He added that "football has a proud connection with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities" and that the sport "is a game for everyone", with Football Australia "committed to ensuring our matches are welcoming and respectful occasions for all".
Victoria's Minister for Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos, also criticised the fans involved, describing it as "not our best moment" in a social media statement. He referenced the Greek concept of filotimo, saying it meant "doing the right thing by others with dignity", and added that the same respect should be shown "to the people who have been on these lands for many years before we got here".
Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece said the match itself was a great occasion but that he was saddened by the jeering. "That was extremely disappointing to see. It was shameful actually," he said. "As Australians we show respect and people should show respect during the Welcome to Country."
The incident follows punishments handed down in June to four men convicted and fined over booing during an Anzac Day dawn service Welcome to Country in 2025, an episode linked to Neo-Nazi hecklers. Separately, a planned Welcome to Country at an Anzac Day NRL match between Melbourne Storm and the South Sydney Rabbitohs was cancelled on the same day as that dawn service incident. Melbourne Storm later apologised for cancelling the Welcome to Country but said the decision was not related to the booing.
