Feedback cites 50 racial abuse allegations – Capital Football
RACIAL abuse has marred football games in Wellington about 50 times during the past three years, but is not ‘‘systemic within the game’’, a new report says.
Capital Football launched an investigation into racism across the league after a complaint from a Seatoun team about a game against Lower Hutt City AFC.
A disciplinary panel later said it was ‘‘inclined to believe’’ racist abuse happened during the June 30 match, though the offender could not be identified.
Capital Football asked clubs and players to report any racist incidents they had experienced.
Chief executive Richard Reid has reported back on its website. ‘‘We were made aware of approximately 50 instances where comments have been allegedly made,’’ he said.
That figure represented less than 1 per cent of 8100 adult matches played during the past three years.
‘‘The overwhelming thrust of your feedback is that occasionally the societal issue of racism crosses the line of a football field, but it is not systemic within the game,’’ he wrote.
‘‘Many of you commented that football is the most multicultural of all sports played within New Zealand, and it was to football’s credit the issue was at the level you thought it was at.
‘‘Not for one moment do we think what was received from feedback from you were the only instances of unacceptable behaviour, and these wouldn’t have been limited to racist and/or discriminatory remarks.
‘‘Racism is completely unacceptable in any shape or form, and has absolutely no place within football.
‘‘However, we are what we are, the administrative body of football within our region. We cannot solve this issue, but we can ensure that sufficient legislation exists so that instances can be dealt with when they are brought to our attention.’’
Capital Football had not always dealt with complaints of racial abuse appropriately, he said.
For example, in 2011, staff had a meeting with a club over an incident, but it was not relayed to the board. ‘‘Clearly, this is unacceptable.’’