Seven has issued a formal apology for not fully broadcasting the ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremony during the FIFA Women’s World Cup match between Australia and Ireland.
The omission left many viewers disappointed, particularly as the ceremony held profound cultural significance.
The ceremony, which was carried out by Dharug Elder Aunty Julie Jones, accompanied by the Jannawi Dance Clan, was broadcast in its entirety by Optus Sport. However, Seven’s coverage briefly showed it in the background with presenters talking over it and ad breaks interrupting the proceedings.
The gravity of the situation was not lost on Aunty Julie, who expressed her devastation to NITV.
“They opt for an ad and mute the stories and voices of women representing the planet’s oldest living culture,”
She further highlighted the missed opportunity for the young dancers’ families who anticipated watching their children on the free-to-air broadcast.
Aunty Julie also pointed to Channel 7’s past hinting at a pattern of cultural insensitivity towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. She expressed hope that given the magnitude of the event, the channel would have demonstrated more awareness and respect.
Expressing her disappointment, she told NITV,
“The World Cup commentary presenters rambled on, failing to accord respect to a mere three-minute ceremony. It’s perplexing as to why it was so difficult for them to maintain a brief silence.”
In response to the criticism, Lewis Martin, the Network Head of Sport, told Media Watch,
“We sincerely apologise for overlooking the broadcast of the cultural ceremony during the Australia vs. Ireland match in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.”
“There were valid reasons for it not being broadcast on the night, but we do apologise for the upset caused.”
Martin confirmed that the full ceremony is now accessible for viewers on 7plus as part of the complete match replay.
