The AFL will continue to focus on stamping out racism in light of two recent incidents involving players, the league’s social policy and inclusion manager says.
Port Adelaide
In a statement on Sunday afternoon, Port Adelaide Football Club called for an end to racism, such as that expressed towards Aliir.
“There is nothing brave or courageous about using social media to racially abuse or personally vilify a player,” the statement read.
“Racism is divisive and hurtful and has no place in our game or in society more broadly. It has to stop.”
South Australia’s shadow minister for Aboriginal affairs Kyam Maher said over time there had been positive changes in society, but there was still a long way to go.
ABC News: Carl Saville
)“The way sport and particularly the AFL has over the years handled this has been an example to many other institutions and the rest of the community,” he said.
He said leaders needed to continue speaking out when incidents occur, as saying nothing means they can be “swept under the carpet”.
“Social media has many positive benefits of bringing people closer together but, of course, the anonymity that sometimes social media provides means that it is a difficult space,” Mr Maher said.
“I’m sure there is more that can be done between, primarily federal legislation, and the companies themselves.
“Again I think things are improving, I think things are called out more, I think people more often hit those buttons to report abusive or racist content, but yes there is more that can be done.”
Source: AFL NEWS ABC
