Racism in sport in Australia

Racism in sport in Australia has a long history as stated by the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC). In 2006, the AHRC published the report What’s the score? A survey of cultural diversity and racism and it stated that:

'Racism in sport is a complex problem. It can include: racism, discrimination, harassment or vilification by players directed at other players; by spectators directed at players; or racist behaviour among rival spectator groups which spill over into disruptions and violence in the stands. It also includes the actions of sporting officials and coaches, as well as media commentators.[1]

Sport historian Colin Tatz in his research into indigenous athletes stated that: they’re Australians when they’re winning, and Aborigines at other times in summarising the history of racism in Australian sport.[1]

Background

Tatz in his book Obstacle race: aborigines in sport (1995) traces racism in Australia sport back to the 1800s.[2] Since the 1990s there have been numerous racial vilification cases reported in the Australian media. This is due to the increase in indigenous athletes participating in Australian Football League (AFL)[3] and National Rugby League (NRL) and national sports organisations introducing rules to facilitate racial vilification cases.

In 1995, the Australian Football League introduced Rule 30: A Rule to Combat Racial and Religious Vilification on 30 June 1995 as a result of the shortcomings in the Michael Long's racial vilification case against Damian Monkhorst.[4] The Rule stated that: no player ... shall act towards or speak to any other person in a manner, or engage in any other conduct which threatens, disparages, vilifies or insults another person ... on the basis of that person’s race, religion, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin.[5]

The AFL's rule was the first racial vilification code in Australia sport. The AFL lead the way with its code and subsequently most major national sports organisations introduced their own rules.[6]

These voluntary sporting rules of conduct mirror Racial Discrimination Act 1975 and the Racial Hatred Act 1995 Section 18 C.(1) that: It is unlawful for a person to do an act, otherwise than in private, if:
(a) the act is reasonably likely, in all the circumstances, to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate another person or a group of people; and
(b) the act is done because of the race, colour or national or ethnic origin of the other person or of some or all of the people in the group. to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate another person or group of people because of their race, colour, or ethnic or national origin. [7]

The AFL has been seen to take leadership in the battle against racism in sport through showcasing an Indigenous Round each year and Dreamtime at the 'G.[8] The NRL has an Indigenous Round and there is an annual game with the Indigenous All Stars.[9]

The Play by the Rules website established in 2001 provides a wide range of resources in racism in sport to assist administrators, coaches, officials, players and parents.[10] In 2012, the AHRC launched a Racism. It Stops with Me, a community awareness campaign aimed to empower Australians to counter racial prejudice and discrimination. All the major sports organisations - Australian Football League, National Rugby League, Australian Rugby Union, Football Federation of Australia, Cricket Australia, Netball Australia and Tennis Australia have become part of this campaign.[6] A television advertisement was produced that included indigenous and non-indigenous athletes.[11]

Sports

Listed below are cases related to racial vilification in Australian sport. In several of the cases, there was no racial vilification proved. The list concentrates on cases at the elite level of sport relating to athletes, spectators and commentators but there is anecdotal evidence of racism in community sport. These cases consequently received wide media coverage. There appears an increase in cases related to fans either at sporting events or through social media.

Athletics

Australian football League

Adam Goodes, indigenous Sydney Swans player

Boxing

Cricket

Indigenous fast bowler Eddie Gilbert

Football

Hockey

Rugby league

Rugby union

Tennis

Sports Commentators

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Oliver, Paul (2006). What’s the score? A survey of cultural diversity and racism (PDF). Sydney: Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. pp. 7–11. ISBN 0642270015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Tatz, Colin (1995). Onstacle race : aboriginesw in sport. Sydney: UNSW Press. ISBN 0868403490.
  3. Evans, John; et al. (2005). "Indigenous Participation in Australian Sport: The Perils of the ‘Panacea’ Proposition". Cosmopolitan Civil Societies: An Interdisciplinary Journal 7 (1). Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  4. Gardiner, Greg (1997). "Racial abuse and football : Australian Football League's Racial Vilification Rule in Review" (PDF). Sporting Traditions 14 (1): 3–26. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  5. McNamara, Lawrence (2000). "Tackling Racial Hatred: Conciliation, Reconciliation and Football". Australian Journal of Human Rights 6 (2). Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  6. 1 2 Soutphommasane, Tim Soutphommasane. "Australian sport and racial vilification". Australian Human Rights Commission News, 24 October 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  7. "Racial Hatred Act 1995". Australian Government Com Law website. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  8. Klugman, Matthew; et al. (17 April 2013). "The racist abuse suffered by Nicky Winmar is rare in footy now, but AFL culture is still bedevilled by assumptions of black inferiority". The Age. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  9. Walter, Brad (6 August 2015). "From Arthur Beetson to the modern-day stars: Why the NRL's Indigenous Round is worth celebrating". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  10. "Racism in sport". Play by the Rules website. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  11. "Racism. It Stops With Me sport advert has timely launch". Australian Human Rights Commission News, 25 May 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  12. Knight, Ben (27 July 2012). "Athletics Australia can't ignore discrimination claims". Australian Broadcasting Corporation News. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  13. Lane, Sam (25 July 2012). "Steffensen had only to raise alarm, says AOC". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Gorman, Sean (2010). "Sporting Chance: Indigenous Participation". Cosmopolitan Civil Societies Journal 2 (2): 12–22.
  15. McNamara, Lawrence. "On the field and off the field : sport and racial hatred". Australian Human Rights Commission website. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  16. Gorman, Sean (1969). Brotherboys: the story of Jim and Phillip Krakouer. Allen & Unwin: Sydney. ISBN 1-74114-595-3.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Coletta, Frank (29 July 2015). "From Peter Norman at the 1968 Olympics to Nicky Winmar's black pride protest and Dawn Fraser's racist comments: The moments in Australian sport when race has become bigger than the game". Daily Mail. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
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  21. 1 2 Hagan, Stephen (2006). Australia's blackest sporting moments: the top 100. Darling Heights, Queensland: Ngalga Warralu Publishing. ISBN 1-921212-00-4.
  22. Gibbs, Stephen (26 March 2005). "Harrison has run his race". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  23. 1 2 3 Cooper, Adam (27 June 2011). "Sherman banned over racist abuse". The Age. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  24. Rucci, Michangelo (16 March 2012). "Adelaide recruiter Matt Rendell quits over racism row". Herald Sun. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  25. 1 2 Windley, Matt (25 May 2013). "Adam Goodes 'gutted' after 13-year-old girl's racial slur, who called the Sydney champion today to apologise". Herald Sun. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  26. "AFL taunts at Adam Goodes reignite racism row". BBC News. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  27. "Police cheer sports fans who dob in racist, homophobic spectators". The Age. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  28. "Majak Daw abuse: ‘Everyone can do something to stop racism’". Australian Human Rights Commission News. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  29. Robertson, Katie (11 April 2014). "Nic Naitanui ‘Twitter abuser’ ‘banned’ from social media attacks, contacting AFL star". Perth Now. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  30. Clarke, Tim (1 May 2014). "Guilty plea likely for racist tweets". The West Australian. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  31. Flannagan, Martin (4 October 2014). "Why do footy crowds boo Adam Goodes?". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  32. Adair, Darryl (1 August 2015). "Man up? I see a man down: booing and being Adam Goodes". The Conversation. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  33. Whimpress, Bernard (December 1992). "Few and far between : prejudice and discimination among Aborigines in Australian first class cricket 1869-1988" (PDF). Journal of the Anthropolocal Society of South Australia 30 (1-2): 57–71. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  34. Knox, Malcolm (20 January 2003). "Wake up Australia, racism is a problem". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  35. "Racism shames nation: Cricket Australia". The Age. 31 January 2006. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  36. Migliaccio, Val (28 July 2008). "Referee race abuse furore". The Advertiser.
  37. "Adelaide United fan who racially abused Paul Ifill banned for two years". News.com.au. 24 December 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  38. Smithies, Tom (10 April 2014). "FFA’s independent Disciplinary Committee dismisses Brendon Santalab’s racism charge". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  39. Holt, Monica (6 July 2003). "Tough times for Filipaina". Sunday Star-Times.
  40. 1 2 Walter, Brad (25 May 2009). "Players call for action on slurs". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  41. Walter, Brad (27 March 2004). "Langmack, Craigie to meet over racial abuse claim". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  42. Weidler, Danny (21 July 2002). "Race talk riles Preston". Sun Herald. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  43. Pritchard, Greg (5 July 2005). "Toughest sentence: Fletcher must say sorry to teammates". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  44. AAP (1 May 2007). "Merritt, Mundine say omission racist". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  45. "Petero Civoniceva speaks out on monkey racism slur". Daily Telegraph. 10 July 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  46. "Greg Inglis targeted by social media slurs". Australian Human Rights Commission News, 25 May 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  47. "WA Equal Opportunity Commissioner Allanah Lucas condemns racist abuse aimed at AFL's Nic Naitanui". Australian Broadcasting Corporation News. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
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  51. Pearce, Linda (21 May 2013). "Angry young man disappoints". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  52. Schlink, Leo (20 June 2009). "Brydan Klein embarrassed by his racial slur". Herald Sun. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  53. "Australian Brydan Klein given six-month ban for racist abuse". Reuters India. 9 July 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  54. Hogan, Jesse (19 July 2005). "Hunt apologises for racial 'stuff up'". The Age. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  55. "Dean Jones sacked after 'terrorist' remark". ESPNcricinfo, 7 August 2006. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  56. "AFL figure sorry for 'cannibal' remark - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Abc.net.au. 2010-06-17. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  57. "Relationship will stay strong: Mifsud". Afl.com.au. 2010-06-17. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  58. "Eddie McGuire apologises to Adam Goodes for King Kong comment but will not resign". ABC News. 29 May 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  59. "ABC rugby league caller David Morrow sorry for 'racist' remark". The Australian. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  60. Proszenko, Adrian (7 June 2014). "Warren Ryan quits ABC job over racism row". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 August 2015.

Further reading

Books

Articles

Websites

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