Former Newcastle Jets defender Ljubo Milicevic has spoken out about the Australian Football League's apparent 'drug culture'.
Currently a free agent trying to get a deal in Europe, Milicevic spoke to fourforutwo.com.au from Switzerland about the AFL's booze and drug culture and that the industry are bigoted towards people with non-Anglo backgrounds.
Milicevic is often outspoken and controversial and his comments this time are no different as he turns his contempt towards a rival code.
"I'm a product of the system," he said. "I was a sweet kid growing up. And I loved Australia. But as I got older I began to see things with my own eyes.
"I realised that Australia was a different place than the one sold on TV. We're lead to believe everything is rosy.
"The other day Eddie McGuire (Collingwood FC president) called the west of Sydney something like, 'the land of the falafels'. I'm sorry Eddie, we don't all agree with what you say - you and all your boys on the Footy Show.
"Look at Sam Newman. He goes to areas [on the Footy Show] with large numbers of migrants and picks on people less fortunate people than himself, and some of the Australian public finds that funny.
"It's a real cheap form of humour. No coincidence 'Street Talk' is in Richmond and in Footscray.
"It's okay for him to drive around in his Lamborghini and look down upon everyone. I've got no respect for him or any of his mob.
"And the Rugby League Footy Show, they make fun of Mario Fenech. It's no coincidence that Mario is a w*g.
"They all crucifed Ben Cousins when he's the only one I respect. Blokes like him and Michael Gardner had balls. Look at Derek Kickett. When he retired he said 70% of AFL is on drugs. I'd back that up 100%.
"The first thing an AFL footballer said to me when I got back to Melbourne and I was in a niteclub was, "do you want a line of coke?" I said I was happy with a shot of Agua.
"I can tell you there are players on drugs. Why? Because I am linked with the underworld and I know people and they tell me things. You can bury your heads in the sand, but rest assured, idols in the AFL and NRL are out taking drugs.
"And you cover it up and do good PR campaigns about your strike policy over drugs and try to bag football. We're the real football, not you guys.
"When in our game if someone is caught taking drugs they get banned for a year no questions asked. Look at Bosnich, Adrian Mutu and look at Rio Ferdinand, who just because he wasn't there for a test was banned for eight months.
"So don't sell us some PR campaign - you're a bunch of bigots. You think you're bigger than society itself.
"And the way you treat women with utter disrespect is a disgrace. St Kilda [AFL] have been my team since I was a little kid. I grew up in Moorabbin.
"I no longer support them because of the way they've carried on.
"And don't be fooled about this thing about promoting w*gs. Andrew Demetriou sold his soul. The problems he caused Australia's World Cup bid proved to me he sold his soul."
