Port Adelaide chairman David Koch has received heavy criticism after insensitively referring to slavery during a discussion on his morning show, Sunrise, about sports superstar Usain Bolt.
Koch's co-host Mark Berretta had revealed a story about a European club's interest in the football convert as he awaits a contract offer from Central Coast Mariners.
Bolt is hoping to crack the A-League after showing signs of improvement in a pre-season trial where he scored two goals, however it remains unclear if the Mariners will add him to their books.
A curious Koch questioned whether the Mariners could profit off their potential recruit and sell him to another club, in the form of a transfer fee which is a popular concept in rival codes.
“So the Mariners sell him for money, they make a lot of money out of it?” Koch asked
Beretta responded: “It’s a win-win: You keep him, great. You sell him, so be it. That’s the tough world of professional football.''
As Bolt is not contracted to the Mariners, they have no right to request a transfer fee or any form of cash in return for the fastest man in the world.
Koch then had a wild on-air blunder, quickly retracting his comments, but the damage was already done.
“Who said slavery was over — anyway. No,” he said.
The gobsmacked reactions of his co-workers said it all as the cameras quickly panned away before Koch tried to cover up his tracks.
"Who said slavery was over?"
— Weh Yeoh (@wmyeoh) October 15, 2018
This is what Kochie had to say about the transfer of one of the world's greatest athletes, Usain Bolt, on Sunrise this morning. #sun7
Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/0uHr3QhzKR
Koch later defended himself on Twitter, claiming he had used the term slavery when talking about other athletes and a better explanation was required.
1/2 On @sunriseon7 this We were talking about how good it is for Bolt and the Mariners at news he was getting offers from European clubs.
— David Koch (@kochie_online) October 16, 2018
Basically the use of the word slavery is a reference I’ve used to defend players who want to trade clubs or change jobs in Sport...
2/2 that you can’t keep them... it’s a free world. There’s no slavery any more. People have rights.
— David Koch (@kochie_online) October 16, 2018
I admit it was clumsily put this morning when talking about Bolt shifting clubs so early and I should have explained it better.
Channel Seven viewers watched on in disgust as social media lit up with rage.
this one is such a goose....Sunrise host David Koch makes slavery 'joke' about Usain Bolt https://t.co/zyj8jw5Zoi via @MailOnline
— Amber.K. (@AmberX994874) October 16, 2018
Kochie, what was the end of your joke? "Who said slavery was...."? @sunriseon7
— Postyrus (@postyrus) October 15, 2018
Just watched 10 seconds of @sunriseon7 and Kochie nearly blurted out some kind of slavery joke? What the hell dude?
— generic doe (@genericjoesmith) October 15, 2018
