Border Mail |
WANGARATTA forward James Wong is “sick” of being racially abused and revealed it happened several times during a clash with Lavington.
Wong was disappointed and distressed by Saturday’s slurs, and the Magpies yesterday asked the Ovens and Murray football league to initiate its vilification and discrimination policy to deal with the incidents.
“I’m just sick of it,” Wong said last night.
It is alleged the second sledge took place after a player on Lavington’s bench told Wong to “stop speaking Chinese”.
This happened during a fiery third quarter at Lavington that saw the game stopped briefly and a number of heated words exchanged.
“This was just the straw that broke the camel’s back,” Wangaratta president Col McClounan said.
“It did have an impact on him during the day.
“Now it’s just about James, in particular, being happy with the outcome of this process.
“It is an opportunity for people to understand the seriousness of the issue.
“And we all learn as a part of this process.”
Under the O and M policy, the league has asked Lavington to contact the Pies to resolve the issue informally.
If that is not achieved in “reasonable” fashion over the next three days, there is the option to take proceedings to a conciliation process.
Under that process, formal statements are made and evidence is given.
If that is unsuccessful, there is then scope for tribunal hearings and or possible penalties imposed.
McClounan said that was not Wangaratta’s aim, but the club saw this as an opportunity to make a stand.
“Obviously we’d rather everyone was talking about the footy,” he said.
“But we see this as a real opportunity to educate people.
“This is not about individuals, as I said yesterday.
“Lavington is a terrific club and a club we don’t have great issues with them — this is not particular to them.”
The Ovens and Murray has been in contact with both clubs.
League general manager Aaron McGlynn said the issue was now in the hands of the Pies and Panthers.
“It’s up to them how they play it out,” Mc-Glynn said.
“We’re here to go through whatever process we need to and if they don’t get the resolution and outcomes they want then it can move down the next process.”
Meanwhile, Wangaratta speedster Matt Grossman will face the independent tribunal tomorrow night.
Grossman has been reported for allegedly using abusive, insulting, threatening or obscene language against Lavington officials just after the first incident with Wong.
Lavington president Peter Barwick said the club would co-operate with any investigation.
