Investigation into ‘racist’ comment to Samoan ace
AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into an allegation of racism towards Cardiff Blues’ Samoan international Filo Paulo by a supporter during a match.
Second row Paulo was playing for the Cardiff club side against Aberavon in Saturday’s Welsh Premiership clash at the Talbot Athletic Ground when the incident took place.
He had just been sent off for dangerous play and was leaving the field when a comment was allegedly made by an Aberavon fan in the stand.
It’s understood the words used were “Go back to Tonga”, even though Paulo is actually New Zealand-born and is of Samoan heritage.
Cardiff team manager Iestyn Williams says the club will be contacting Aberavon to get their views on what happened.
“There was a racial comment shouted out,” claimed Williams.
“We are now as a club going to investigate further. We are going to be contacting Aberavon to see what their stance on the incident is and what their comments are.
“As far as we are concerned, the issue is not resolved at all. It’s not done and dusted. It’s something you don’t want to hear on a rugby field.
“Hopefully it can be resolved between the two clubs. If not, the Union will have to get involved.”
The alleged comment provoked an angry response from the Cardiff players on the sidelines.
“It did turn a bit hostile after the comment,” continued team manager Williams. “There were words exchanged between the person concerned and the boys in our technical zone. Our subs reacted.”
Blues star Nick Williams expressed his concern over the incident by taking to Instagram to post a message.
The veteran No 8 said: “I just thought I would jump on here to have a bit of a rant/discussion.
“I have just got back from an amazing grassroots game, but towards the end an incident happened and somebody in the crowd yelled a racist slur to one of the players of Polynesian descent.
“It kind of shocked me. My kids were there, the player’s kids were there as well. I was sitting there and I didn’t know what to say. There were just emotions coming out of nowhere. I feel that in our game in the last year or two there has been an underbelly of racism that we probably haven’t addressed. So let’s stamp it out.
There’s no room for that in our wonderful game. So let’s all stay happy guys.
“And to the bloke that said it, we’ll cwtch it out my man. There’s none of that in our wonderful game of rugby.”
Fellow Blues star Willis Halaholo added his thoughts, saying: “I knew I wasn’t tripping when I had a rant about it a couple of months ago.
“Come on peeps, this can’t be happening, especially when our own kids are around.”
Aberavon chairman Andrew John said as far as he was concerned the matter was resolved with Cardiff after the match.
“After the game, it was agreed from both sides we would speak to the individual involved and that would be it. The matter would be closed,” he said.
“I dealt with it with two people from Cardiff. It was agreed at the end of the conversation the matter was closed. It’s unfortunate and hindsight is wonderful. As far as I’m concerned, the matter was sorted. I can assure you I spoke to two people from Cardiff and it was agreed the matter was done and dusted. But if they contact us and have a change of heart and want it investigated, then that’s what we will do.”
The 32-year-old Paulo, who has won 37 caps for Samoa, is in his second spell with the Blues, but was making his debut for the tabletopping Cardiff club side in Saturday’s Indigo Group Premiership clash with the Wizards. He was handed a straight red in the closing stages of Aberavon’s 20-18 win.