MEDIA STATEMENT
1 October 2020
Football SA is aware of media reports in regards to a reported incident of racial vilification and the subsequent findings of the Football SA Independent Disciplinary Committee.
Reports following a 28 August 2020 Under 16 Game were referred to the Football SA Independent Disciplinary Committee.
The Football SA Independent Disciplinary Committee consists of a range of professional people which includes, but is not limited to, lawyers, police officers, former match officials and ex-club officials from a variety of backgrounds, male and female and of varying ages.
The Committee convened on 9 September 2020 and heard evidence from the complainants and respondents. One of the allegations was of racial vilification.
The Disciplinary Committee made a number of findings including:
- A player had racially vilified another player and was issued a 12 match suspension.
- Prior to being racially vilified, a player had used abusive and threatening behaviour towards a player and following the racial vilification had also used abusive language. As a consequence, the player was issued a 2 match suspension.
In handing down the penalty, the Disciplinary Committee was asked how a player should respond to racial vilification. The Disciplinary Committee responded that a player should not react directly to the person, but to report it immediately to the match officials. This would avoid any retaliatory behaviour and possible sanctions. At no stage, as has been reported, did anyone within the hearing imply that a person should remain silent regarding any instance of vilification.
Football SA will not tolerate any form of vilification and has a strong history of issuing sanctions against those who commit such offences. A 12 week sanction for racial vilification is within the range of penalty as outlined in the Football Federation Australia Disciplinary Table of Offences and sends a very clear message that any form of vilification has no place in football, or our community.
[Ends]