Eddie smacks down Sam over same-sex marriage spray

Eddie McGuire has hit back at Sam Newman after the Footy Show host blasted the AFL over their same-sex marriage statement.

On Thursday night Newman slammed the AFL for supporting marriage equality, calling the sporting body "political whores" who are telling people how to vote.

The ex-footballer, who is nicknamed "Fossil" on the show, said the AFL has no right to tell people how to vote.

"You are nothing more than obsequious, fawning, sycophantic political whores. You have no right to get involved in political messages," Newman said.

On Wednesday the AFL, which has been involved in social campaigns throughout its history, temporarily changed its logo to "Yes" to support same-sex marriage.

Newman's outburst came on the same day as the AFL's Docklands headquarters was evacuated after a hoax threat was called through.

"If this was about the AFL putting Yes on the football about climate change, or save the whales, or greenhouse emissions or whatever, I would have exactly the same opinion," Newman said.

"But who in the hell are these people at the AFL who are telling the football public what they should do in their lives and who they should vote for in any political agenda -- who are you?"

Co-host and Collingwood President McGuire hit back at Newman in a big way.

"The AFL stands for a situation that I think should be the lifeblood of our country and that is 'it's not what you are, it's who you are', McGuire said.

"The AFL is saying to young kids 'you can come here and be safe, if you're a 14 or 15-year-old and you're gay you can come to a football club and you can be part if it.

"It's just saying that they are welcoming for equality."

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull responded to the furore on Friday.

"I'm not going to tell the AFL or any other organisation how to run their affairs," Mr Turnbull told 3AW on Friday.

"The AFL has always had a very forward leaning approach on social issues, whether it's multiculturalism or reconciliation.

"They have always been a very socially progressive organisation and taken a strong stand on the same sex marriage issue for a long time."

The AFL has previously supported campaigns against racism and street violence, and has promoted the cause of women and indigenous people in the game.

with AAP