SFL investigates allegations a Flagstaff Football Club player was targeted in a weekend gamehttps://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sou ... 71c21c652dThe Southern Football League is investigating allegations a Flagstaff Hill Football Club player was targeted by racial abuse at a weekend match.
A witness who did not want to be named told The Advertiser the incident happened at the C-grade round 12 Flagstaff Hill home game against the Morphett Vale Football Club.
She said a racial and homophobic slur was used to “demoralise” a young Flagstaff Hill player, who The Advertiser understands is of Lebanese descent.
The witness said league games can become physically heated but the Morphett Vale team seemed to be targeting one player in particular.
“It was just before three-quarter time, there was a bit of an altercation,” she said.
“A call had been made by the umpire to turn the ball back to Flagstaff Hill and the captain of Morphett Vale wasn’t happy about it.
The Advertiser has chosen not to repeat the alleged slurs at this time.
She said the victim’s teammate responded aggressively, calling the alleged opposition player racist.
A second altercation allegedly broke out after the final siren.
The woman said it was horrific to hear about the abuse.
“That language is absolutely despicable,” she said.
“The fact that he specifically went after him with a racial slur and with a homophobic slur is horrible.
“You could tell that they were really upset by the comments.”
The Southern Football League’s president Craig Warman said he was making calls on Monday morning about what happened at the game.
“I have spoken to both clubs and awaiting their response,” Mr Warman said on Monday.
“We have a zero-tolerance policy in relation to this sort of incident and I will await their responses to ascertain what action needs to be taken in line with this policy.”
The witness said the SFL should make reporting of such incidents easier for victims.
She hoped the player alleged to have made the slurs would be banned for the remainder of the season.
Morphett Vale Football Club president Michelle Glazbrook said she was aware of “some incidents involving players pushing and shoving which ended in our team being awarded free kicks”.
“I will say that we as a club strongly condemn racism or discriminating comments and behaviours.
“If this incident has in fact taken place we will work together with the Flagstaff Hill Football Club and the SFL to see that we achieve the correct outcome.”
The Flagstagff Hill Football Club was approached for comment.
It comes two years after an inquiry into an incident which saw Indigenous players from Port Noarlunga Football Club subjected to racial taunts at a match against Flagstaff Hill.
While an investigation could not determine the identities of those responsible for the abuse which happened in August 2020, the SFL warned the Flagstaff Hill Falcons any repeated racism would result in sanctions.
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2022 5:45 pm
