AFL
  1. Home
  2. AFL
  3. News
Save
Print
License article

Fan denies 'ape' comment about Adelaide Crows player Eddie Betts is racist

Show comment

A woman who described Adelaide Crows player Eddie Betts as an "ape" on Facebook has denied that the comment was racist.

Up Next

FootyFix: Will Easter deliver another Geelong Hawthorn classic?

null
Video duration
05:34

More AFL Real Footy Videos

null
Video duration
02:27

Woman faces charges over racist AFL post
null
Video duration
01:26

Ablett and Suns stun Hawks
null
Video duration
01:53

AFL plays of round three
null
Video duration
01:30

Adelaide Crows win the 42nd Showdown

null
Video duration
01:30

Dockers upset defending premiers
More videos

Woman faces charges over racist AFL post

A Port Adelaide supporter faces police charges over a Facebook post she made, one of a number of racist incidents at the Port Adelaide v Adelaide showdown on Saturday. Vision courtesy Seven News Melbourne.

Port Adelaide fan Maxine Spratt is facing police charges after a Facebook rant suggesting Betts and his family "go back to the the zoo where they belong".

However, Ms Spratt said her comments could not be considered racist.

"I just don't like the players, never have liked them, never will like them," she told Channel Seven news.

"I've got part-Aboriginal in me so, I don't find that racist."

Advertisement

Ms Spratt will be summonsed to appear at the Adelaide Magistrates Court at a later date for using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence

Port Adelaide have also suspended the membership of another one of their fans who was evicted from Adelaide Oval on Saturday night for racially abusing Betts during the game between the South Australian clubs.

The taunts come eight months after another Port Adelaide fan threw a banana at Betts during a game.

In 2013, then Sydney Swans star Adam Goodes pointed out a Collingwood fan, a 13-year-old girl, who called him an ape during a match between the clubs. 

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan admits the code needs to do more to prevent racism.

"It hurts the individuals, it hurts their families, it hurts their communities and it hurts our game and we need to stop this," he said.

Port Adelaide's chief executive Keith Thomas said: "As a club, we are sickened by these reports." 

Indigenous player Shaun Burgoyne, a four-time premiership player who chairs the AFL Players' Indigenous Advisory Board, said Indigenous players were saddened by ongoing racial vilification.

"This has been happening for far too long and we, as Indigenous footballers, have had enough," Burgoyne said.

"We deserve more respect than we are being shown.

"While it's heartening that these incidents are being called out, there's a lot of work to do before we can claim to be a truly inclusive game."

Betts declined to comment on Tuesday as his teammates rallied around him.

"You just don't understand why this happens, especially to a bloke who is one of the nicest guys you will meet," Betts' teammate Luke Brown said..

"It's for him to deal with and if he feels like talking to the boys, we're here for him.

"We're here to support him throughout the whole thing and the club is doing the same thing... we'll back him 100 per cent."

 With AAP

1 comment