Fan slapped with 2-year ban over abuse

Adelaide, Dec 24 (IANS/CMC) Australian football authorities here have imposed a two-year ban on a man found guilty of racially abusing Barbadian international Paul Ifill.

In a statement Sunday, Football Federation Australia said the Adelaide United fan had breached its Spectator Code of Behaviour and would be barred from matches under its control, reports CMC.

According to clause ‘C’ of the code, fans are expected to “respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person regardless of their gender, ability, race, colour, religion, language, politics, national or ethnic origin”.

The fan, whose name has been withheld, has also had his Adelaide club membership cancelled.

Speaking afterward on online social networking service Twitter, Ifill said he was thankful the ordeal was over and was grateful to the Adelaide club and police for “acting promptly and professionally in the investigation.”

“Also want to thank (Wellington) Phoenix FC and all fans of the A-League for their support in what has been a pretty tough week for me,” he tweeted.

—IANS/CMC

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IANS 2012-12-24 13:46:18