Magpies fan stripped of membership for racial slur

Updated June 05, 2012 16:08:00

Collingwood has cancelled the membership of a long-term supporter for racially vilifying Gold Coast player Joel Wilkinson.

The incident took place during the last quarter of the match between the Magpies and the Suns at the MCG on Sunday.

Magpies midfielder Dale Thomas reported the incident to the club, and his claim was backed up by emails and telephone calls from Collingwood supporters.

These complaints identified the offender who has taken responsibility for his comments and agreed to write apologies to Wilkinson and to both clubs.

Gold Coast also made an official complaint over the incident to the AFL on behalf of Wilkinson.

Wilkinson asked for the matter to be made public to in a bid to educate spectators on what is unacceptable crowd behaviour.

The AFL accepted the advice of its vilification consultant Frank Bassini not to name the spectator who had been a Collingwood member for 20 years.

Gold Coast Suns chief executive officer Travis Auld said the club is proud of the stance taken by Wilkinson who is a multicultural ambassador for the club.

"We admire his courage and we will ensure he continues to receive the support he deserves," Auld said.

Nigerian-born Wilkinson said that although he was upset by the incident he was encouraged by the response of Thomas and the Collingwood club.

"I was shocked when the incident took place and it was extremely upsetting at the time," Wilkinson said.

"But the actions of Dale Thomas and a number of Collingwood supporters in the area certainly demonstrate that the overwhelming majority of society finds this behaviour to be unacceptable."

Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert also apologised to Wilkinson and the Suns on behalf of the Magpies.

"It is important that Joel knows that the behaviour of one Collingwood supporter is not a reflection of the views of the broader Collingwood community," Pert said.

"I hope Joel is heartened by the strong leadership position that Dale Thomas took, which was supported by the crowd that witnessed the incident and then, ultimately, the football club itself."

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, melbourne-3000, qld

First posted June 05, 2012 14:27:24

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Sport as War - The Racial Politics of Football

AFL acts on racial taunts

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Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Broadcast: 05/06/2011

Reporter: Barrie Cassidy

Sudanese player Majak Daw has been subjected to racial taunts by a spectator who was removed from the ground.

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Daw shaken by racial abuse

Updated June 5, 2011 14:29:00

North Melbourne's Sudanese-born rookie Majak Daw admits he was hurt after being the victim of racial abuse from a spectator during a VFL match at Port Melbourne on Saturday.

Daw was playing for the Kangaroos' VFL feeder team Werribee when the vilification occurred.

"It was quite a shock to me, that happening, but I suppose I can't control what other people are going to say," he said.

"All I've got to do is not dwell on it and move on."

The male spectator was ejected from the ground by police at half-time and faced further sanctions.

"It definitely did (hurt me)," Daw told the Nine Network.

"I was pretty flat in the first quarter and that carried on throughout the day and last night.

"But I'm feeling better now. I've had a lot of support from family, friends and the club, from Port Melbourne and Werribee and the VFL.

"And also through Twitter, I've had plenty of people writing comments and giving me their support.

"It's good to see that a lot of people don't accept what happened yesterday."

North Melbourne president James Brayshaw was appalled that Daw - who was yet to make his AFL debut - had been forced to endure racial abuse.

"I understand it was instantly dealt with and the person was ejected," Brayshaw said on the Nine Network.

"The police and the VFL are going to pursue that in the proper way.

"I thought with Jimmy Krakouer and Nicky Winmar and Michael Long, the stand those blokes took back in the 1980s has gotten rid of all of this.

"And we're now at 2011 and we don't have to deal with it any more.

"But maybe we've been asleep at the wheel a little bit. Maybe we need to get stronger with it."

Brayshaw said Daw, 20, was shaken by the incident.

"You should never have to put up with that," he said.

"To have to cop that at a VFL ground is a disgrace.

"I hope that person is dealt with in a strong fashion.

"I tend to swing towards a life (ban) but education is what it has got to be."

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, melbourne-3000

First posted June 5, 2011 13:10:00

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Concern over alleged Franklin racial abuse

Updated April 19, 2011 15:49:00

Tasmania's Anti-Discrimination commissioner has expressed concern about allegations AFL star Lance Franklin was racially abused in Launceston last weekend.

Hawthorn says Franklin was subjected to a tirade of abuse from an unidentified man during the match against West Coast at Aurora Stadium on Saturday.

Hawthorn is determined to uncover the person who made the alleged comments, with Hawks chief Stuart Fox saying he was appalled at the news.

The club says it plans to have the person barred from future matches.

Commissioner Robin Banks says racism is not acceptable on or off the field.

"People are quite impassioned about their sport and they almost forget the norms of appropriate behaviour and conduct when their adrenaline is up," she said.

"[This] is why it needs to be addressed very strongly by the AFL and by everybody involved."

First posted April 19, 2011 15:36:00

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