Port Adelaide have slapped an indefinite AFL ban on the woman who ignited a racism controversy by throwing a banana at indigenous star Eddie Betts.
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The Advertiser spoke to the women’s mother, who was clearly not happy about the weekend’s events, said that her daughter wasn’t home but she couldn’t say where’d she’d gone.
“It has sadly occurred in sports around the world, the act of throwing a banana”.
Port defender Matthew Broadbent said he was shocked and disappointed by the attack.
She has also apologised for her behaviour and will take part in the club’s cultural awareness program.
“We quickly moved to ban her indefinitely”.
Port have offered the woman cultural awareness training, which she accepted.
Adelaide Football Club’s Eddie Betts was in action against Port Adelaide when a supporter threw the banana in the player’s direction after he scored, although a team-mate intercepted it.
“There’s no use banning someone for life and not giving them an opportunity to be educated, and that’s what all of our programs have always been about”.
The Port Adelaide fan at the centre of the incident.
The club also relied on testimony from Port Adelaide fans in the vicinity, who said her action was accompanied by racist sledging through the match.
The Port Adelaide Power spectator aimed the banana at Adelaide Crows’ Eddie Betts after he celebrated scoring a goal in the game at Adelaide’s Oval.
Betts was contacted personally by Koch on Sunday in the wake of the incident, but only last week was urging the AFL to stamp out racism in the stands.
AFL players have joined those calling the incident a racist act to be stamped out of the game.
Burgoyne released a statement on behalf of the AFL Players’ Indigenous Advisory Board on Tuesday morning, saying that while a line had been crossed, the football community’s response was encouraging.
It continues, “The AFL industry is taking great strides to ensure Aussie Rules is a game for everyone but this serves as a reminder that more work needs to be done”.
Mr Buckskin said he hoped other people would learn from the incident.
The throwing of a banana towards Betts drew instant comparison to similar racist acts targeting dark-skinned soccer players.
He said he did not realise what had occurred until watching the footage after the game.
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“He was doing OK”, Fagan told ABC radio.
