Player subjected to racial abuse at County Bord na nÓg U15 match
Eoghan Dalton Reports
A complaint is set to be lodged with GAA headquarters alleging that a teenager was a target of racial abuse during a local underage hurling match.A number of club and County Board officials have told The Munster Express that a female spectator made racist remarks at a young hurler during a recent game.
It happened during a County Bord na nÓg U15 match between De La Salle and Portlaw / Ballyduff, on Monday, August 26, and has provoked fury among members of De La Salle who intend on pursuing the matter. Portlaw GAA chairman Senator Paudie Coffey told this newspaper that enquiries by the club have confirmed that the spectator is not a member of the club.
“We certainly don’t condone those remarks and my thoughts are with that child,” he said.
The alleged abuse came during a fiery match where De La Salle ran out 3-18 to 2-11 winners, but which also produced two straight red cards and several moments of note, with the racially abused player involved in one such incident.
Speaking yesterday (Monday), Mr Coffey said he was informed that racist remarks were passed during the match by a spectator. He said he understood that the remarks may be mentioned in the referee’s report and reiterated: “Portlaw GAA do not condone any such remarks and neither do any of our players.”
However, Waterford Bord na nÓg chairman Eric Furlong said that as the juvenile board is a sub-committee of the Co Board, it does not have responsibility for incidents of that serious nature.
GAA Race Row