Skip to navigationSkip to contentSkip to footerHelp using this website - Accessibility statement
Advertisement

Eagles boss blasts latest AFL racism

Roger Vaughan
Updated

Subscribe to gift this article

Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.

Subscribe now

Already a subscriber?

West Coast premiership forward Liam Ryan has become the latest AFL figure targeted for online abuse, prompting more calls for tighter controls on social media.

Eagles chief executive Trevor Nisbett called the racist abuse of Ryan hateful and vitriolic garbage.

Ryan's teammate Nic Naitanui led a groundswell of online support for Ryan among AFL players.

West Coast player Liam Ryan. Darren England

"The social media companies need to do more," Nisbett said.

"We would like to see a lot of things happen in social media - when you perform those cowardly acts in an anonymous way, it's not fair.

Advertisement

"The comments posted by some people on social media are absolutely abhorrent.

"The continued use of the term monkey is disgusting and these keyboard cowards must be held to account ... no-one should be subjected to this hateful and vitriolic garbage."

WA Premier Mark McGowan and AFL Players Association boss Paul Marsh also said on Monday that social media companies need to do more to help stamp out online abuse.

Ryan was booked for striking during Saturday night's loss to Brisbane.

Channel Seven's Instagram account had a post asking fans if he should be suspended and that led to the racist comments.

Ryan can accept a fine for striking Darcy Gardiner, who was also fined for misconduct after he started their confrontation.

Advertisement

Clarkson responded to the issue by posting a video on the club website.

"Rather than sit silently, we refused to accept this behaviour and instead, we're going to celebrate the excitement, skill and passion that our diverse stars bring to the game," Clarkson said.

"I'm going to kick things off by talking about Eddie Betts - what a star.

"We have to play our best defender in Ben Stratton on him every time ... they've even got a pocket named after (Betts)."

AAP

Correction: This article was originally published with the incorrect West Coast player. We apologise for the error.

AAP

Subscribe to gift this article

Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.

Subscribe now

Already a subscriber?

Latest In Politics

Fetching latest articles

Most Viewed In Politics