Weekly Times | TWO country footballers in the Hume and Goulburn Valley leagues allegedly were the target of racist comments on Saturday.
In the Hume league, a Murray Magpies player was allegedly racially vilified by an umpire in the club’s 15-point loss to Coreen-Daysdale Hopefield-Buraja United.
Murray Magpies president Ted Miller said on Monday night the club had filed a complaint to Hume league headquarters and he had also contacted AFL North East Border umpire development manager Mark Bywater.
Miller would not elaborate on the nature of the comments because of AFL Victoria’s confidentially policy on investigations that are in progress.
Hume league president Merv Wegener confirmed the league had received the complaint, and had spoken to Bywater about how to handle the process. He said it was the third racial vilification allegation he’d dealt with in 15 years in his role, but stressed at this stage it was only an allegation. “This is something we take seriously, we don’t tolerate, because we all want to enjoy our sport together, doesn’t matter who we are,” Wegner said.
AFL Victoria and the league will have to consider the merits of the allegation. The umpire is yet to put forward his position about the complaint.
In the Goulburn Valley league, Shepparton United president George Moore said a Euroa spectator allegedly made what could be “perceived” as a racially abusive comment to a Demons player.
Euroa has launched an internal investigation into the matter, which occurred during the seniors’ 36-point win.
Euroa president Scott Watson said he had contacted Moore to apologise on behalf of the club and the individual concerned would receive “education and counselling support”.
AFL Goulburn Murray operations manager Simon Devine said it was “disappointing” it occurred at all, let alone a week after the league’s Report Racism round.
