By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
An indigenous Australian Rugby League player, Ezra Mam, of the ‘Brisbane Broncos’, has accused a player from a rival team, Spencer Leniu, of the ‘Sydney Roosters’, of calling him a “monkey”.
The incident is alleged to have occurred during a match between the two teams in Las Vegas.
When asked after the match about the complaint, Leniu is reported to have remarked:
“Nothing had happened.”
And added:
“It’s all just fun and games on the field.”
Although the referee stated that he did not hear the racist slur, at Mam’s request, who is reported as being “pretty upset” by it, the referee has made a formal complaint.
National Rugby League officials are investigating the claim and, if proven, Leniu could face fines and match bans.
It appears that Australian sport has been fighting a wave of racist abuse from spectators, but such abuses between players is not very common!
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘