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A fan was reportedly booted out of Penrith’s BlueBet Stadium for allegedly racially abusing South Sydney Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the vile incident occurred when as the two teams were leaving the field at half-time to return to the dressing rooms.
Upon hearing what was said, it's understood the racial slur was reported to stadium security who ejected the spectator shortly after.
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Reports from News.com.au allege Mitchell was called a “black dog” by the person-in-question as he walked down the tunnel at BlueBet Stadium.
Mitchell, as well as a number of his Souths teammates, reportedly heard the slur.
The outlet also claims the offender was a teenager who was wearing an NRL jersey – although it wasn't a Rabbitohs or Panthers one.
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In footage posted online by the Sydney Morning Herald, the Rabbitohs squad can be seen stopping in the tunnel to try and identify the person.
"The one in the Roosters jersey," a Bunnies player says.
Speaking after the game, Bunnies coach Jason Demetriou - clearly very upset and angry with the situation - called upon the NRL to dish out life bans to supporters who racially abuse players.
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“It’s not a claim, it actually happened,” Demetriou said in his post-match press conference.
“It's not the first time we’ve come here and our players have been racially abused. Where does it end? It’s just not on.
“I shouldn’t have to come here as a coach and lead a group of players in here to be racially abused. It’s not what our game’s about and we have to stamp it out completely. NRL, clubs, they have to get rid of it. Life bans. Anyone who wants to racially abuse, get them out of the game. We don’t want their support. It’s got to end.”
Asked how Mitchell reacted, he said: “He’s sick of it. Why wouldn’t he be? He should be able to come here as a star of our game and not get racially abused. Who cares what colour he is? It’s just not on. I don’t understand how that happens in our day and age. I can’t get my head around how a young kid thinks that’s the language to be used. I don’t care what jersey he’s wearing, get them out of the game.
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“This is not something Latrell has only had to deal with on the footy field, this is something he's had to deal with his whole life. All Indigenous people do. I just can’t get my head around it, I don’t understand in Australia how anyone’s raised like that.
“Where as a game to do we say ‘no, no, it’s not happening.’ There has to be hard and fast rules that if anyone goes even close to being racial, they are completely ruled out of our game. And if it’s a kid, rule his parent out as well.
“If it was my child, I’d be absolutely ashamed, embarrassed that my child had even thought to speak like that.”
A police investigation into the matter is still underway.
Topics: NRL, Rugby League, Latrell Mitchell
Max Sherry