Australia: South African cricketers ‘racially abused’

South African cricket players were met with racial taunts from Australian supporters during a recent series tournament in Australia.

The International Cricket Council have promised a crackdown to stamp out racist abuse at grounds in Australia.

India’s solicitor general Goolam Vahanvati was appointed by the ICC to conduct an inquiry.

In his report, he concluded: “It was premeditated, co-ordinated and calculated to get after the players. It is a serious matter.”

The inquiry was set up following a complaint from the United Cricket Board of South Africa.

South African players Herschelle Gibbs, Shaun Pollock, Andre Nel and Boeta Dippenaar were all subjected to racial abuse in different places.

“It would be wrong to attribute racial abuse to South African expatriates living in Australia or explain it away as being the result of drunken behaviour,” the report said.

Gerald Majola, head of the United Cricket Board, warned in January that his country could boycott Australia in future unless action was taken.

And South African captain Graeme Smith said: “I think it’s something that they need to be very strong on – just like Fifa (footballs’ world governing body) – and keep the game clean.”

Source: BBC