Indigenous footy star Latrell Mitchell calls out troll who called him a ‘filthy black maggot’

Indigenous NRL star Latrell Mitchell has hit back at a racist troll who called him a ‘filthy black maggot’ online.

Mitchell posted a screenshot on Sunday night of the racial slur made on Facebook, where a man said he would laugh if the Sydney Roosters centre’s neck was broken.

‘Fu**en oath I wish that someone would break that filthy black maggot Latrell Mitchell black neck I would laugh my guts up (sic),’ the vile post read.

But Mitchell called the troll out, saying racism had no place in Australia.

‘It’s just a game of footy. There is not need for comments like this (sic). S**t like this is disappointing. 2019 and nothing is changing,’ Mitchell wrote on his Instagram.   

Mitchell’s father Matt said he broke down in tears after seeing the racial abuse his son received.

‘When my wife showed me the comments on Sunday night I got emotional about it,’ Matt told the Sydney Morning Herald.  

‘I was probably more angry than anything. That’s such an old-school mentality. Australia is multicultural now. There’s no need for it.’   

Mitchell’s post was shared by fellow indigenous star Joel Thompson, with NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg also taking fire at the offender.

‘Racism must be called out in all its forms because the standard you walk past is the standard you accept,’ Greenberg said.

Mitchell posted a screenshot on Sunday night of the racial slur made on Facebook, where the offender claimed he would laugh if the NRL star’s neck was broken 

Latrell Mitchell called the troll out, saying racism in this day and age is despicable. Pictured with girlfriend Brielle 

‘I commend Latrell for doing just that. These comments are disgusting and have no place in our game.

‘What I love about rugby league is the diverse cultures and backgrounds it brings together. The heritage of our players is what makes our game so special.

‘Incidents like this show why our school programs like In League In Harmony and Indigenous rounds are so important to educate the next generation about inclusion.

‘There is no place for any sort of abuse on social media towards our players or their families.’

The NRL will investigate if the person behind the comments is a club member, and if he can be barred from attending games.

The Roosters are also well aware of the matter, and are leaving the issue in the hands of the NRL.

Rugby League Players’ Association boss Ian Prendergast also backed Mitchell and Thompson for taking a stand on the matter.

NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg took fire at the offender’s comment, as the NRL investigates if the person behind the comment is a club member 

‘We encourage our players to have a voice in terms of telling their stories or about themselves and helping promote the interests of the game generally,’ Prendergast told AAP.

‘But I think they’ve also got a strong voice in calling out behaviour they think is unacceptable. It can help better protect their fellow players as we’ve seen in recent times.

‘Hopefully we see a trend in towards this type of behaviour that is completely unacceptable being called out as well.’

The racial slurs thrown at Mitchell come after Cowboys star Josh McGuire copped death threats for his latest suspension.  

‘He’s been getting absolutely hammered, relentlessly – like hundreds every morning and they are just the most disgusting things,’ McGuire’s wife Tanyssa told the Townsville Bulletin. 

‘He had someone a couple of days ago saying they hope he gets hit by a bus so his kids don’t have to grow up with Josh McGuire as their dad’. 

Cowboys star Josh McGuire copped death threats for his latest suspension, with his wife Tanyssa (left) saying the trolls’ comments have been ‘relentless’