Ifill racially abused as Phoenix lose to Adelaide

Updated December 17, 2012 13:44:03

Adelaide United says it will support any sanction imposed on spectators found guilty of shouting racial slurs at Wellington Phoenix's Paul Ifill during Sunday's A-League clash in Adelaide.

Ifill said some fans had racially abused him while he was being substituted during Wellington's 2-0 loss to the Reds in an incident being investigated by Football Federation Australia (FFA) and Adelaide United.

The English-born Barbados international tweeted his frustrations, saying a line had been crossed at Hindmarsh Stadium.

@PaulIfill Bad times poor result and racist abuse from a very small minority of fans #nothappy.

Thanks for all your support as I said it was a small minority no problem with a bit of banter but a line was crossed today

Ifill, among the A-League's elite players, was understood to have been repeatedly called a racially derogatory term when substituted during Wellington's 3-1 loss to Adelaide.

Read the story: United scorches Phoenix in Adelaide

Adelaide FC has released a statement saying it does not condone the reported spectator behaviour.

"The club is assisting stadium management and Football Federation Australia with its investigation and will support any sanction imposed on the guilty party," the official statement read.

Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert refused to confirm the racial nature of the abuse.

"It's not for me to confirm or not," he told reporters post-match.

But an Adelaide United spokesman said the club was aware of the racial abuse.

"We will investigate the matter," the spokesman said.

An FFA spokesman said the governing body "will investigate any incidence of racial vilification".

SA Police and security staff at Hindmarsh Stadium were made aware of the racial abuse, which came as Ifill was substituted in the 61st minute.

After the Barbadian was taken off, Phoenix coach Herbert reacted instinctively by turning around and appearing to look for those abusing his star player.

But Herbert was reluctant to expand on the racial vilification.

"You may want to ask the club (Adelaide)," Herbert said.

"There was a few comments that we have shared with the (Adelaide) club officials ... with regards to a player.

"It would probably be best to talk to the club, Adelaide."

Herbert said it was not his position to confirm or deny the racial element of the abuse directed at the highly-respected Ifill.

The 33-year-Ifill was born in Brighton in England and played 238 games for English club Millwall, including the 2004 FA Cup final against Manchester United.

Ifill also had stints at Sheffield United and Crystal Palace before joining the Phoenix.

ABC/AAP

Tags: a-league, soccer, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, new-zealand, australia

First posted December 17, 2012 07:50:45

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Hammers striker 'racially abused'

Posted May 18, 2011 06:15:00

West Ham striker Demba Ba claimed Tuesday he'd been racially abused by a fan after police were called to the club's end of season dinner at a luxury London hotel.

Ba said the trouble at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Monday started when he was subjected to racist comments from an unhappy fan the day after the London club's relegation from the English Premier League was confirmed.

There had been reports tempers frayed when Senegal striker Ba, on loan from German club Hoffenheim, refused to sign an autograph.

However, Ba insisted he did sign and that both he and West Ham team-mate Danny Gabbidon had been subjected to racist abuse.

"It was a crazy situation," Ba told Talk Sport Radio on Tuesday. "This guy came to me when we were sitting at the table. There were two players per table and Manuel da Costa was with me.

"This guy came and asked for an autograph so I gave him his autograph. Then he asked me nicely how I was feeling so I just said I was tired from the game yesterday and that it was a tough game. And then he just replied 'Oh, we're tired watching you play every weekend'.

"I was surprised and told da Costa what the guy had said. Then the guy all of a sudden started screaming at me like crazy. I tried to calm him down but he didn't want to.

"He kept on screaming, then some players came and pushed me out of there. They just told me to walk away and tried to calm this guy but he didn't want to calm down and started smashing some tables and glasses.

"When he (the supporter) talked to me I didn't understand everything that he said but the people next to me said he was saying racist things and stuff.

"When Gabbidon heard these words he came and tried to talk to him but this guy didn't want to listen and started insulting Gabbidon as well."

Earlier, West Ham co-owner David Sullivan said the events had been "blown out of all proportion".

Sullivan, speaking to Sky Sports, added: "It was one individual who had too much to drink, sadly a problem in British society.

"A player was racially abused by the same drunken supporter, which is not acceptable. Sadly one drunken supporter let the club down."

Police confirmed they were called to "reports of a disturbance" at the hotel.

"Officers attended. There were no offences alleged and no arrests," a spokesman said.

According to a report in the Sun, West Ham's players had been ordered to turn up at the event, attended by about 200 people, including corporate sponsors, in a bid to help raise money for the club's youth academy.

West Ham is looking for a new manager after sacking Avram Grant on Sunday following the 3-2 defeat at Wigan which sealed its relegation.

Former England head coach Steve McClaren has ruled himself out of the running to fill the managerial vacancy.

- AFP

Tags: sport, football, english-premier-league, united-kingdom, england

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