Hibs Fans Push Back Against Malky Mackay
FAO Hibernian FC CEO Ben Kensell, the Board, the Gordon family, Bill Foley
Dear Hibernian FC
I am a season ticket holder and have been for many years. I have supported Hibs since the early 1960’s – my first game at Easter Road was against Third Lanark in 1964.
I am writing because I believe the club must change its decision to appoint Malky Mackay to an important position in our club. Malky Mackay is on record as expressing racist, homophobic and misogynist views. This was not one thoughtless remark or misguided “banter”. These views were expressed on various occasions and clearly display a deeply bigoted set of attitudes – see the quotes from Malky Mackay near the top of this article.
Already several groups of Hibernian supporters have condemned the appointment including The Hibernian Women’s Supporters Alliance, Hibees Pride and Block 7. I know many individual supporters are appalled too.
As you know Hibernian FC were founded by Irish immigrants and the appointment of someone who is racist is a betrayal of the club’s origins. This appointment is an attack on groups such as Hibees Pride who are striving to make the club and stadium more inclusive of all the community. How can they now feel Easter Road is a safe space?
The club needs to realise it has made a serious mistake and end all association with Malky Mackay.
I look forward to a response from the CEO, the Board, the Gordon family, Bill Foley – I feel supporters need and deserve replies from the people who made the decision and have the power to change the decision. The nature of this response will determine whether I can continue as a season ticket holder or whether I will have to cancel my season ticket.
Yours sincerely
Michael (Season Ticket ref *****)
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Totally agree. He has never shown any real contrition for his behaviour or understanding of the harm it causes. Shocking appointment. Offensive to the club’s proud traditions and to its fans and community.
And how on earth does his cv / track record qualify him for such a huge job at one of Scotland’s biggest clubs?
You mean apart from apologising and seeking help to learn and make himself more aware off his ignorance
No one allowed a 2nd chance in your book ?god forbid someone in your own family steps out of line!
Leanne Chricton has work alongside Malky and can’t speak highly enough about him
Go and support Hearts. You’ll be a lot happier ☺️
As a Hibernian supporter for 40 years I would just like to express my disgust at the treatment of malky mackay by some elements of the Hibernian support. Everyone had said something stupid at some point in thier life and I can bet the ones saying they are disgusted in his appointment are not innocent themselves…I will judge him on the job he does at hibs. Good luck malky.
Like Michael , been a hibes support all my life I’ve no complaints about Malky appointment , he’s football man and just the experience we need to support a young manager to bring back stability within the club . Give him a chance . Alastair. West Lothian
Guess all those arrested over the years should be barred forever as very few have changed there attitude in any way wonder how may of Block 7 can say they have never made remarks that a racist think one just has to walk almost the crowd and think they would be surprised how many have the same MISTAKES AS MALKY think we all have to move on GGTTH SMIFFY
Get a life will you. Imagine every Hobs supporter that txt a message with sweary words or jokes, our stadium would be empty. I don’t agree with Hibs p ÷÷÷÷ but my opinion doesnt matter. You are making Hibs a laughing stock with your woke agenda. Please get a life
What ever he has done he has been made aware its nolonger acceptable in today’s woke world.
So much for free speech.
Go malky don’t let the fannies get u down .
More are for you than against you.
If everyone was perfect what a boring world we would be living in.
‘Woke World’ : )
I love the idea that even to expect the most modest level of integrity for someone working in a multicultural contemporary area such as football not be a racist, misogynist bigot is somehow ‘woke’. What a travesty
Burn the witch!
Give the man a break we all hav said things we later regret judge him on the job he does
Yes, nobody’s perfect and yes, we’ve all said things we later regret. However, in this case Mackay made numerous offensive comments, and he was aged about 40 when he made them…very different from someone who made a single comment in their youth and later saw the error of their ways. He knew he wouldn’t get another job in the game unless he attended a training course. He could have demonstrated his anti-racism by, for example, giving his services for free to a project supporting young disadvantaged Black people. Hibs are keen to be seen as a club that is welcoming to all people, e.g. by helping to set up Hibees Pride, yet with this appointment they are jeopardising this aim as many people who thought Easter Road was becoming a safer place for them will be reluctant to go to games.
If Malcolm McKay had bunged the Tory Party 5million quid instead of going on discrimination awareness courses he would have been forgiven years ago.
Thanks for the comments on my letter. I agree we must hope and believe that people can change. But I think in view of the nature and number of the racist, sexist and homophobic statements Malky Mackay made, he has to do more than just go on one course. As you can read via the link, his behaviour included sending a profoundly racist email to Cardiff City staff (the “Black Monopoly” email see also https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/malky-mackay-texts-former-cardiff-manager-accused-of-sending-racist-sexist-and-homophobic-messages-9682753.html).
I think if someone who has engaged in this kind of deeply discriminatory behaviour wants to hold such a prominent position in a football club then that person needs to make amends and show they really have changed. For example they need to make public statements declaring their commitment to combatting racism, sexism and homophobia and they need to take some practical actions to oppose such oppression (eg publicly participating in events such as those held by groups like Show Racism the Red Card and the Rainbow Laces campaign)
If anyone is aware of Malky Mackay having done this please do let us know. In any case the club and Malky Mackay need to urgently address the situation now and respond to the many supporters who have raised deep concerns. The club – and Malky Mackay himself – need to meet with the supporter groups like Hibees Pride, the Hibernian Women’s Supporters Alliance and Block 7.
I think the club either needs to act to prove that Malky Mackay really has profoundly changed – or Malky Mackay needs to leave Hibernian. If nothing is done then what kind of message is this sending to potential Hibs players and to Hibs supporters? Surely we want to be known as a club where all are treated as equal human beings without any kind of discrimination?
PS if anyone wishes to write the club on this issue these are two of the addresses you can use: [email protected], (Kieran Power is the Supporter Liason Officer for Hibs)
sorry I missed out one of the addresses for writing to Hibs, it is
sorry tech problems! – [email protected]
‘…if someone who has engaged in this kind of deeply discriminatory behaviour wants to hold such a prominent position in a football club then that person needs to make amends and show they really have changed.”
Hmm… Not sure that’s true. Surely, the person only needs to convince those who are recruiting and selecting for the position that there’s little risk of his or her re-offending. Presumably, Malky has done this. And presumably his employers will be monitoring his performance in this regard in his future role with the club.
Thanks for the comment. I hope we all believe that everyone should be treated equally without discrimination and oppression. So if anyone engages in deeply discriminatory behaviour then if that person wants to be accepted as having changed they need to take some practical actions to make amends. This is even more true when that person is holding such a prominent public position – Malky Mackay is a public face of Hibernian FC.
I don’t think it’s enough for us to presume Hibs board/ top management may have privately considered this issue (and we don’t even know if they have considered it). In a profound sense, that goes beyond the legalities of capitalist property ownership, Hibs belongs to all of us who support the club as well as those who work there.
If Malky Mackay really no longer holds these oppressive attitudes, and if he really cares about Hibs, then he should want to convince the fans, staff/ players and potential future players of this. In particular he should want to convince the groups against whom he directed hateful messages – gay people, Jewish people, people of colour, women.
If those in charge of Hibs believe Malky Mackay really has changed they too have a duty to publically explain why they believe he has changed. And they have a duty to meet, listen to, and engage with the fan groups who have raised deep concerns including The Hibernian Women’s Supporters Alliance, Hibees Pride and Block 7.
I’m less concerned with the state of Malky’s ‘soul’ (i.e. whether he’s a ‘racist’, ‘’misogynist’, ‘bigot’, ‘homophobe’, or whatever name you want to call him) than with his behaviour. Providing his future behaviour is monitored – and sanctioned if and when (and only if and when) it falls short of the club’s expected standards – then that’s good enough for me. Anything more would be sheer vindictiveness – a witch-hunt.
Malky’s rehabilitation should be judged on his future behaviour, not his past crimes.
‘Hate the sin and not the sinner,’ as Gandhi used to say.
I agree everyone should be given the chance to change. But when you are talking about someone holding such an important position in our football club we need an assurance that the hurt and deep worry that many supporters are feeling is being addressed by the club. Hibernian FC need to meet, listen to and respond to the fans who have raised concerns about the appointment including Hibees Pride, Hibernian Womens Supporters Alliance and Block 7.
And it IS important that Malky Mackay has really changed and is not just refraining from making discriminatory statements to keep out of trouble. For example we need to reassure any potential new player who is a person of colour or Jewish or gay that they are coming to a club where they will be treated equally and with respect like everyone else – this applies both to established professionals and to academy youth recruits. And it also applies to the current playing staff.
You wrote “Malky’s rehabilitation should be judged on his future behaviour, not his past crimes.”
Fair enough – but I think that needs to include his behaviour right now – if Malky Mackay really no longer holds oppressive attitudes, and if he really cares about Hibs, then he should want to reassure the fans, staff/ players and potential future players of this.
We need to hear from both the club and Malky Mackay.
Yep; the club should certainly listen to its stakeholders.
I don’t know what assurances have or have not been made regarding the support and supervision Malky will receive from his employers in the role which he has been appointed. I’d certainly expect that his performance in enacting the behaviours expected of him as an employee of the club will be subject to regular appraisal; that’s just good employment practice.
Malky’s personal beliefs and attitudes are irrelevant to his professional competency. The principle of equal opportunities requires that no one is discriminated against because of their beliefs and attitudes, whatever they might be, and however abhorrent anyone may find them. All that matters is that Malky continues to behave in accordance with the values of the club while he’s in its employ and subject to disciplinery action if he breaches those values.
The days in which prospective employees can be discriminated against because they’re judged to be morally unfit or undeserving by their potential employer are thankfully long gone.
This statement was put out by Hibees Pride and as yet the club has not responded to the concerns raised:
In response to reports of racist comments at a recent game, Hibernian FC said:“The Club condemns any form of racist or
discriminatory behaviour towards any player, official, staff member or supporter. It is completely unacceptable, and has no place in the
game or wider society. The Club will take the strongest possible action against anyone identified in making discriminatory and hateful
comments.”
While Malky Mackay has previously attended training to change his ways and educate himself it is hard to believe that is enough to convince a
club who proudly stands on a clear foundation of football for all. It definitely is not enough to convince the fans. This appointment throws all
the good work of the club back in the face of the fans. The commitment to reducing barriers for all marginalised groups, especially condemning
homophobia and racism in football is something to be proud of and it would be impossible for Hibs to continue to claim Easter Road is a place welcome to all football fans while employing
Malky Mackay. Hibees Pride are disappointed in Malky Mackay’s
appointment as Sporting Director and will be making this clear to the club.