The National Rugby League is embroiled in another racial episode after a fan was heard shouting racial slurs at South Sydney Rabbitohs Players Greg Inglis.
It is alleged that a fan called Inglis a ‘black dog’ as he was taken from the field for a concussion test in a game against Penrith The Daily Telegraph reported.
It’s also alleged that in the same game the same fan might have racially abused Penrith Panthers player Tyrone Peachey.
The Penrith club immediately released a formal apology on to Inglis on behalf of the club.
The National rugby League is embroiled in another racial episode after a fan was heard shouting racial slurs at South Sydney Rabbitohs Players Greg Inglis
The incident happened at Penrith Stadium when the Rabbitohs took on the Panthers
Inglis told Rabbitohs general manager Shane Richardson about the incident and it was immediately referred to the NRL Integrity Unit who are now investigating.
Penrith Panthers general manager of football Phil Gould and Panthers group CEO Brian Fletcher both said they would work with the NRL and the Rabbitohs to identify and ban the offender.
Fletcher said that the club and the football code will not tolerate such behaviour.
‘We don’t tolerate that. We will work with the NRL to catch the perpetrator,’ he said.
Fletcher said if the fan was caught they could expect to be banned from all NRL grounds, not just Penrith Stadium.
Both clubs will also push to have the ban be a lifetime one.
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg also commented on the incident.
Inglis told Rabbitohs general manager Shane Richardson about the incident and it was immediately referred to the NRL Integrity Unit who are now investigating
‘Greg said he doesn’t mind getting booed when he leaves the field, that’s part of footy,’ he said.
‘But to be racially abused is totally unacceptable.’
He said the Rabbitohs star had no hesitation in lodging a formal complaint and that the NRL is determined to investigate and find the fan in question.
Friends of Inglis told The Daily Telegraph that the football superstar was ‘distressed and understandably upset’ over the incident.
Officials form the Penrith club have already begun to comb through CCTV footage from the ground in hopes of being able to identify the fan responsible.
Made a little easier by knowing at exactly which moment in the game and from which exit Inglis left the field.