Booing of AFL indigenous player 'damaging' Australia society

Australia's race discrimination commissioner has condemned the persistent booing of one of the nation's most high-profile indigenous athletes, warning it has gone beyond sport and become a blight on the country.

Sydney Swans' Australian Rules football star Adam Goodes, a former Australian of the Year, has been the target of a barrage of jeers during matches this season, sparking fears he may quit after the abuse escalated and he ruled himself out of an AFL fixture this weekend.

Many believe it is racially motivated and stems from him taking exception to being called an ape by a young spectator at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2013, with the abuse reportedly intensifying after he performed an Aboriginal war dance during a match in May.

Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane has no doubts there are racial undertones.

"Let me be clear. There is no question that the booing is of an ugly and unedifying nature," he said during a speech on Wednesday evening.

"It has everything to do with Goodes standing up against racism and speaking out about indigenous issues.

"Goodes has been a public figure not afraid of challenging prejudice; not afraid of asking questions about Australian history and society. He has done it in ways that have made some people feel uncomfortable."

Aborigines are believed to have numbered around one million at the time of British settlement in 1788, but there are now just 470,000 out of a total population of 23 million.

They are the nation's most disadvantaged, with few making it as elite athletes.

Goodes has received broad support among fellow AFL (Australian Football League) and National Rugby League (NRL) players with some teams announcing the inclusion of indigenous dances during upcoming games.

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan has called for the "sheep-like" booing to stop.

"I don't know that we've ever had the issue that we have with Adam now about him being booed for 15 or 16 weeks," he said.

"I do think there comes a point where we need to call out this behaviour and go 'enough's enough'."

Soutphommasane agreed that it had gone too far.

"The vilification has got to stop. Because it is doing damage -– not just to the game of AFL but also to our society," he said.

"With each match, each week, that this booing is tolerated, more and more people are being given licence to degrade, humiliate and intimidate; to believe that they can hound someone who speaks out about racism into silence."
Source: AFP