NRL probes racial abuse

[Patorick]

http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/new...-of-top-panther/2008/07/06/1215282651725.html

NRL probes racial abuse of top Panther

Brad Walter | July 7, 2008

NATIONAL Rugby League officials are investigating an incident in which Penrith captain Petero Civoniceva was racially abused after yesterday's 22-16 win at Parramatta Stadium. Civoniceva, who described the level of abuse as among the worst he had encountered in 11 seasons with Brisbane and the Panthers, said he had been targeted by a group of about six Eels supporters as he walked from the field.

Eels officials were aware of the incident and apologised to Civoniceva.

 

[Patorick]

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,23977331-5006066,00.html

By Dean Ritchie at Parramatta Stadium | July 06, 2008 04:50pm

HE deserved so much better after such a heroic and powerful performance.

But rather than be applauded by the Parramatta fans yesterday, Panthers prop Petero Civoniceva was taunted racially.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that Civoniceva - possibly the buy of the year - was called a "monkey" and told to "get back in your tree" by a group of Eels supporters during the Panthers' win.

The unruly Parramatta supporters had a beer resting on the fence with Civoniceva then knocking it on to them.

Disappointed at his actions, Civoniceva will write a letter of apology to Parramatta because young children saw him throw the beer over the group of supporters.

The incident came when Civoniceva was about to return to play as an interchange.

"I lost my cool," he said. "I can cop some abuse but not like that. I hit the beer away. I'm disappointed I did it.

"There were young families close by and I don't want the kids being scarred with that memory of going to the footy.

"I will write a letter to Parramatta to apologise to the families who saw it. There were young families there and I shouldn't have lost my cool because of a few idiots.

"The first thing I saw after I did it were the young kids."

Eels chief executive Denis Fitzgerald will work with the Parramatta Stadium Trust to find those responsible and have them banned from the arena for the rest of this season.

"We will take up the matter with the Parramatta Stadium Trust," Fitzgerald said. "Hopefully we can identify the culprits and then take the appropriate action. That would be banning them from Parramatta Stadium for at least the balance of the season."

The incident took the gloss off a courageous win by Penrith.

 

[gregstar]

sounds like a pretty weak effort.


obviuosly petero provoked them.

he should have known better than to have a blinder at an opposition's home ground.


i assume the nrl will take immediate action and suspend jason ryles.

 

[Dogaholic]

Parra is a blight on our game.

Coin tossing and abusing players is all they are good for.

 

[Mr Saab]

Good to see that the security guards were doing their job.

 

[Pierced Soul]

hmmm dumbass 'supporters' who racially absue petero when parra themselves have a lot of dark skinned players in their grades... :-k

lucky for them petero didnt do a cantona on them

 

[stuke]

hmmm dumbass 'supporters' who racially absue petero when parra themselves have a lot of dark skinned players in their grades... :-k

lucky for them petero didnt do a cantona on them

yep...that about sums them up. weak as p!ss. obviously some people shouldn't drink or breed. unfortunately Petero met some of them yesterday. grubs!

 

[The Dodger]

parra fans are scummier than south american soccer fans.

 

[Nickeel]

Parra is a blight on our game.

Coin tossing and abusing players is all they are good for.

lolz, nice stirring.

A spoon would help with that, perhaps? :lol:

Nick

 

[Nickeel]

Pathetic effort, though. I felt bad enough about the loss this morning without hearing about f**king moronic Parramatta fans sinking to this low. Extremely disappointing, and I would have completely supported Petero annihilating them. That he was upset with himself for throwing/knocking over a beer after being called whatever he was called by these lowlifes is a mark of the bloke's character.

Nick

 

[murraymob]

as a panther fan racial abuse is not acceptable.But it should be pointed it this came from 3 people who from what i am told where very drunk.Go to any ground and you will find these people maybe not using racial names .But all grounds have these fools

 

[abpanther]

parra fans are scummier than south american soccer fans.

Get f**ked!!

 

[Patorick]

Pathetic effort, though. I felt bad enough about the loss this morning without hearing about f**king moronic Parramatta fans sinking to this low. Extremely disappointing, and I would have completely supported Petero annihilating them. That he was upset with himself for throwing/knocking over a beer after being called whatever he was called by these lowlifes is a mark of the bloke's character.

Nick

Part of me wishes Civoniceva had jumped the fench and kicked the sh*t out of whoever it was that said this stuff to him. And then the NRL could have released a statement saying that they fully support and understand his actions. That would get rid of this sort of stuff from ever happening again.

 

[Patorick]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23978425-23214,00.html

NRL appeals for fans to come forward

By Dean Ritchie
July 07, 2008

THE NRL has urged those unruly fans who racially abused Panthers skipper Petero Civoniceva to come forward and publicly apologise.

The Daily Telegraph understands the ratbag fans were identified by Parramatta Stadium security but were not evicted from the match, won 22-16 by the away team.

The Parramatta Stadium Trust will attempt to find the culprits.

NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley described the behaviour as "completely unacceptable".

"We would ban those responsible from all NRL matches because this behaviour is completely unacceptable," Annesley said. "If the culprits have any shred of common decency, they should come forward and apologise for their actions.

"We would support any action Parramatta take if they are able to identify the culprit or culprits.

"Of course the NRL also has a banning system in place in conjunction with the police."

NRL ground manager Peter Denny notified the NRL about the incident.

Panthers officials were disgusted by the drama.

Their anger was increased by the fact it happened to Civoniceva, one of rugby league's true gentlemen.

 

[scottyeel]

parra fans are scummier than south american soccer fans.

Lol, someone from the shire calling people scum for racial abuse.
Go start another riot f**king hypocrite.

 

[muznik]

As an Eel fan I was very disappointed to hear this.

As if yesterday wasnt bad enough for the Parra club.

Drunk or not those idiots should hang their head in shame.

 

[Shorty]

It's disappointing that in this day and age people still resort to pathetic racism...

 

[Ziggy the God]

Don't tar all Eels supporters because of those bastards.

That said, the club should try to find out who they are, and ban them for life. That kind of shiate is not on.

If any of our supporters did that kind of thing, I would expect my club would do the same, or they would kiss my support goodbye.

 

[TheBourbonBeast]

The only thing i would call Petro is "sir"

 

[Timmah]

Geez some of the Eels fans are showing how ordinary they are.