Socceroos attacker Awer Mabil has disputed Pauline Hanson’s claim that the national team embodies her vision of a monocultural Australia.
The controversial One Nation party leader claimed that Australia’s World Cup squad ‘represented’ her view of monoculturism.
‘The far left have naturally taken my comments into the realm of utter fantasy. I was going to ban foreign food and the Socceroos wouldn’t have beaten Turkey under my policy. What rubbish, predictable and pathetic,’ Hanson told the Senate. last week.
‘The Socceroos, in fact, represent my vision of a multicultural [sic] … of a monocultural Australia,’ she said.
‘People from different backgrounds and cultures and nations all wearing green and gold and representing one nation under one flag and succeeding under the same set of rules.’
That struck a nerve with Mabil after he and the Socceroos returned home from their World Cup campaign on Monday.
Awer Mabil took aim at Pauline Hanson after she claimed the Socceroos represented her view of monoculturism
The controversial One Nation party leader has stood against multiculturalism
Mabil went on to say that the team was multicultural and that was a strength of the side
Nestory Irankunda is one of the Socceroos stars who moved to Australia as a refugee
He labelled Hanson’s claims as all ‘b******t’, telling reporters that the team was in fact, the best representation of multiculturalism.
‘We know what we represent. We represent Australia at the biggest stage, and Australia … is the best country in the world, and the Socceroos is the best representation of that,’ he told reporters at Adelaide airport.
‘If anybody’s trying to divide that, then they’re probably not Australian themselves, in a sense, respectfully. Because Australia is very inclusive, includes everybody. That’s what the Socceroos is.’
Born in a Kenyan refugee camp to South Sudanese parents, the winger migrated to Australia as a child and later became an Australian citizen.
Mabil was named Young Australian of the Year in 2023, in recognition of his charity work providing health and education opportunities to refugee communities.
Earlier in the tournament, the Socceroos released a video message embracing their diverse heritage and migrant roots.
‘The Socceroos aren’t just a team, we are a reflection of modern Australia,’ said veteran midfielder Jackson Irvine.
Multiculturalism was seen as a positive within the Socceroos camp, Mabil said.
‘You don’t pick where you’re born, you don’t pick the colour of your skin, you pick to be a good human being. That’s a choice,’ he said.
‘Some people, they choose to go against being good, then that’s their own problem. Then they’re missing out on what others can bring, and that’s what multicultural does. It brings other flavours to the table instead of just one thing.’
Prior to the World Cup starting, the Australian team released a video that explained the different players’ origins.
It focused on their upbringing and where they were born, highlighting a number of players who arrived as refugees.
‘It was a moment to describe what Australia is, and Australia is a very multicultural country, and that’s what makes it the best country in the world, in my opinion – it is the best country in the world because of that,’ player Awer Mabil said at the time.
And he has not changed his stance, having played for a team that featured so many that arrived in Australia as children.
One of whom was goal scorer against Turkiye, Nestory Irankunda, beloved by the nation, the young winger was born in a refugee camp in Tanzania.
