December 24 – An unnamed man who racially abused Paul Ifill (pictured), the former Barbados striker, has been banned by Football Federation Australia (FFA) from A-league matches for two years.
South Australia police launched an investigation after the team management and bench of Wellington Phoenix complained, and Ifill mentioned the abuse on twitter:
The man’s club membership has also been cancelled by Adelaide United.
Ifill says that the incident, which happened in a league match between, was the first time he had been racially abused in the A-League and he has been pleased to receive so much support from fans.
The racist heckler was banned under the FFA’s code of behaviour which says spectators must respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person regardless of their gender, ability, race, colour, religion, language, politics, national or ethnic origin.