Football

Racism has no place in our games says Ulster GAA chief Brian McAvoy

Jemar Hall recently spoke of being the target of racist abuse in a club match. Pic Seamus Loughran.
Jemar Hall recently spoke of being the target of racist abuse in a club match. Pic Seamus Loughran. Jemar Hall recently spoke of being the target of racist abuse in a club match. Pic Seamus Loughran.

ULSTER GAA secretary Brian McAvoy says he found recent allegations of racism in football matches “disturbing” and he has called on anyone targeted by racist abuse to follow the lead of Armagh forward Jemar Hall by bringing the issue to the attention of the referee so an investigation can be launched.

McAvoy added that there was an onus on all Gaels to see the “bigger picture” by not turning a deaf ear to racist abuse if it came from a clubmate.

“Racism is something that you have to condemn in the strongest possible terms,” he said.

“It has no place in our games, or any game, or any walk of life. It was disturbing to read that a number of players have been subjected to it.

“Thankfully these instances are not a regular occurrence but they shouldn’t happen at all. In the GAA we are very, very clear about where we stand on the issue: we are non-sectarian, non-party-political and racism is a category four offence.

“Any deed, word or gesture of a racist or anti-inclusive nature is a clear breach of our laws.”

Forkhill forward Hall reported an incident when he was called a “black bastard” during a club game to the match referee but said a subsequent investigation by the Armagh County Board boiled down to “my word against his” and, without corroborating evidence from the opposition club, the alleged racist got off with a two-game ban for disruptive behaviour.

“A load of people heard what was said but they (his club) denied it,” he told The Irish News.

“It was very frustrating and after it (the county board hearing) I felt that if it happened again there would be no point in even saying anything because unless enough people hear it (and are willing to say they heard it) it just comes down to my word against whoever says it.”

McAvoy said he found it “hard to believe” that other people on the pitch, or watching the game, hadn’t heard what had been said.

“Unless the referee hears the abuse it’s very difficult to prove,” he said.

“But I think there is an onus on clubs to look at the bigger picture and ask themselves: What is more important to them, their player who allegedly has caused the offence or the whole issue of respect for the Association?

“Unless a comment is whispered, people will hear it. If it is shouted out then, irrespective of whether the referee hears it, it’s very hard to believe that others didn’t hear it. So I think there is a message there for clubs and counties. We all have to look at the bigger picture that is at stake here.”

Hall has been applauded for coming forward and bringing the issue into the public domain and McAvoy says other players should do the same.

“It was brave for him to say what he did,” he said.

“Jemar is a very promising young player and young man and he was prepared to put his head above the parapet. That is proper and I would encourage any young person to do the same if they are in any way abused, racially or otherwise. Come out and make sure that the referee is made aware of it if he didn’t hear it and any case should then be investigated.”