"Mr McGuire's comments about Sydney Swans player Adam Goodes were extremely disappointing and totally unacceptable," Mr Demetriou said.
"Given the impact they have had on Mr Goodes as well as the Sydney Swans and the wider football community, the AFL has deemed that Mr McGuire, as a club president, must go through the Racial and Religious Vilification Policy process required by the AFL player rules.
"Mr McGuire's ill-judged comments have clearly compounded the hurt caused to Mr Goodes by the incident last Friday night. As a result, Mr McGuire will be treated under the rules as we would anyone else within the AFL competition.
"The AFL has worked hard over many years to eliminate all forms of racism from the game, and we will continue to do so through our policies, educational programs and by the example we set.
"I have spoken with Eddie McGuire today and he has reiterated to me his strong and ongoing commitment to a range of indigenous programs undertaken by the AFL and the Collingwood Football Club, and also to the AFL's Racial and Religious Vilification Policy."
As per the AFL player rules, Mr Demetriou said that any vilification matter initially required the two parties to speak, either directly or as part of a mediation process. This first step is to be followed by involvement in the AFL's relevant education programs by the person who made the comments.
Mr Demetriou said Mr McGuire had today spoken with Mr Goodes and that his apology had been accepted by Mr Goodes.
"This is an important first element of the established process. In the coming days the AFL will meet with Mr McGuire to implement the next steps under our Racial and Religious Vilification Policy."
