Feral fans at cricket prey on woman
Drunken gropers at one-day international like a pack of dogs, says shaken victim. Megan Gattey reports.
New Zealand Cricket has promised to beef up match-day security after a female spectator was groped and abused at a one-day international match.
Amy Ross had comments hurled her such as ‘‘stupid dyke’’, at the fifth ODI between the Black Caps and Pakistan at the Basin Reserve on January 19. She said it felt like she was facing a pack of dogs.
What made matters worse, she said, was that Red Badge Security guards stood back and did nothing. The company later admitted to her that its staff lost control of the event.
The 39-year-old was sitting on the Wellington venue’s grassy bank with her girlfriend, among a group of 100 or so men, who were mostly drunk and aged in their 30s and 40s. She said the men were chanting obscenities, sculling beer and harassing the Pakistani cricketers.
She had a ball thrown at her ribs, and a drunk man clambered over her, putting his hands all over her body in the process.
‘‘I told him not to touch me and he responded with, ‘don’t be so precious’.’’ The man later returned, purposely touching Ross again and calling her a c ....
‘‘It’s awful because you don’t want to cry because it makes you feel weak,’’ she said.
‘‘And you definitely don’t want them to see it because it’s like letting them win.
‘‘You feel like an animal that’s being preyed upon, but you don’t want to run because you feel like you’ll be chased.’’
New Zealand Cricket public affairs manager Richard Boock said 10 to 20 patrons were ejected from the Basin Reserve for a number of reasons, including ‘‘offensive language or behaviour, intoxication, and bringing contraband into the venue’’.
‘‘NZ Cricket does not think it’s right to accept these anti-social behaviours on the basis that it’s just ‘part of our national culture’,’’ Boock said.
A ‘text assistance line’ offered at major venues such as Eden Park and Westpac Stadium to patrons who need help would be introduced across all international cricket venues.
This would include Mt Maunganui’s Bay Oval, where the third and deciding T20 match against Pakistan will be played tonight.
NZ Cricket offered Ross an unreserved apology after she sent the organisation a letter. ‘‘It is completely unacceptable that a racist, sexist, homophobic culture is allowed to thrive around sport,’’ she wrote.
NZ Cricket wrote that what she experienced was unacceptable
‘‘and we feel we have let you down.’’
Ross received a call from Red Badge Security after the game. ‘‘They acknowledged that they ‘lost control’,’’ she said.
The firm did not respond to requests for comment.
Otago University professor Steve Jackson, who specialises in the socio-cultural analysis of sport, said Ross’ experience showed that despite changes in society, New Zealand still had a long way to go.
Victoria University senior lecturer Dr Dean Knight, who has a special interest in diversity and inclusion in sport, said changing such behaviour was difficult for sports organisations, but they had to address it.
‘‘The reality is society is moving forward and embracing inclusivity.’’
❚ A ‘‘Glittery March for Consent’’ to raise awareness of sexual harassment and assault is due to be held in Auckland today. The organisers, including a woman who was groped at the Rhythm and Vines festival, have fended off claims a British tabloid press agency was benefiting from the march.