Racism rocks 'world game'
ADAM SMITH | May 24, 2011 12.01am
ANOTHER alleged racial slur case has reared its ugly head in Tasmanian sport, this time from a recent local soccer match.
Football Federation Tasmanian chief executive John Boulous has confirmed the sporting body is investigating an incident from a League One match between Metro and Taroona.
The Mercury understands a Metro player was shown a red card, before racially abusing an official who was the central referee in the reserves match and then a linesman for the following senior fixture.
The official, who is linked with the Taroona club, is also believed to have been physically threatened and did not return to his linesman duties in the senior match after half-time.
Fellow match day officials did not make a report, but a spectator at the match who overheard the comments did.
"There is an investigation going on in regards to a racial vilification claim," Boulous said yesterday.
"There's an allegation that a player from Metro racially abused a club linesman from Taroona.
"I don't know any names, the Taroona club has just put in a report. Metro has done their report too.
"We're just waiting for more information back from Taroona before we can push forward with it.
"It all stems from a player being sent off in the reserves game. Some of it was just abuse and some of it was racial, allegedly.
"We don't condone the behaviour. But it's an allegation at this stage, we're conducting a thorough process to find out the facts about what has happened and then take the necessary action that is deemed appropriate.
"We don't obviously want it in the game. We're a multi-cultural sport, we're the world game, we've got lots of different nationalities and football brings everyone together."
Taroona president John Meehan declined to comment when contacted yesterday.
The alleged incident is the latest in a string of racial slurs in recent weeks.
Hawthorn star Lance Franklin was abused during a Hawks match against West Coast in Launceston last month, while State League brothers Andrea, Majak and Tour Miar, along with Hobart's Aaron Hall, have also been subjected to racial abuse.
Visiting Zimbabwean university student Nigel Chigwida was also targeted during a rugby match between University and Harlequins last weekend.
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/05/24/232471_soccer.html