Racist graffiti at Hobart test
A man has been banned from going to the cricket in Australia for three years, after he allegedly wrote racist graffiti aimed at a South African player at Blundstone Arena during the second test between the countries.
Cricket Australia has confirmed the man will be barred from any official match across the country, while Tasmanian police said he would appear in court after being charged on summons.
The 24-year-old man from Longford is accused of writing an offensive message on a fence inside the ground on Saturday afternoon. The message is believed to have been targeted at touring batsman and former captain Hashim Amla.
‘‘Cricket Australia and Cricket Tasmania can confirm a crowd behaviour issue that occurred on day one of the Commonwealth Bank Test match against South Africa in Hobart,’’ a CA spokesperson said.
‘‘Tasmania Police identified the person of interest through CCTV and witnesses in the area. Cricket Australia has issued the person with a three-year ban from any Cricket nationally.
‘‘Cricket Australia takes a zerotolerance approach to anti-social behaviour at any of our matches, which includes racial vilification.’’
It is not the first time South African players have been on the receiving end of offensive crowd behaviour in Australia.
Former fast bowler Makhaya Ntini spoke out about racial abuse from the crowd in Perth more than a decade ago, but since then Cricket Australia has cracked down on vilification of any kind at cricket grounds.
South Africa have put in place racial quotas for the national team, aiming for six non-white players, including two black Africans.
Recent Proteas teams have, by and large, met those targets at full strength (in the absence of injured players) anyway.
Play was washed out yesterday with South Africa well on top at 171-5 in reply to Australia’s dismal first innings of 85. Australia match,