Football SA investigates allegations of racial abuse and spitting after heated clash between Gawler Eagles and Modbury Vista
Allegations of racial abuse and spitting are at the centre of a Football SA investigation into a heated confrontation between players and spectators at a northern suburbs soccer game.
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Football South Australia is investigating allegations of spitting and racial abuse from a heated match between two northern soccer clubs earlier this month which resulted in police being called in.
At least four police cars attended the State League Two clash between Modbury Vista and Gawler Eagles at Richardson Reserve on September 11 after receiving several reports of a group of people fighting.
Football SA will hold an independent disciplinary committee hearing on Wednesday night on the matter after gathering testimony from witnesses, players and club members.
The Messenger understands the heated incident involving players and spectators began when a Gawler Eagles player allegedly spat near the sideline.
An internal staff email from Tea Tree Gully Council, which owns Richardson Reserve, revealed Football SA issued a “please explain” to Gawler Eagles.
The club then alleged racial abuse was hurled towards the player who spat, the email says.
Police were called to the Wynn Vale ground on Grenfell Road at about 10.30pm.
Modbury Vista won the match 4-3.
Tea Tree Gully Mayor Kevin Knight, in a further internal email, said he saw a Gawler player spit by the sidelines.
“I could see the cloud of droplets floating in the air under the lighting system,” Mr Knight said in his email to elected members.
“This incident occurred right at the point where the crowd is thickest.
“Spitting, during this pandemic, brought the crowd to its feet, there was a surge towards the boundary.
“For a while there it did not look good.”
Mr Knight said four police cars attended to break up “what could have evolved into a nasty incident” with “pushing and shoving” among spectators after the game.
He said police cars arriving with lights flashing was “not a good look in what is essentially a quiet residential area”.
“I was concerned that this could develop into a real nasty incident.”
However, he also said match officials did their best to control the situation.
“It did appear to me that the Vista officials did all they could to quell what might have become a really nasty incident,” he said.
Modbury Vista registrar Kendall Popping said the club did not condone or tolerate any form of abuse, but police were called after a “large crowd of spectators” refused to leave after the game.
“(The club) would like to thank police for their quick response as they did an amazing job in controlling the situation,” Ms Popping said.
“Both clubs will be attending a hearing on Wednesday night and until then it would not be appropriate to comment on any allegations.”
Gawler president Joe Ridenti declined to comment until after the hearing.
Football South Australia chief executive Michael Carter said the matter would be heard by an independent disciplinary committee.
An SA Police spokeswoman said patrols “dispersed the crowd” and no reports or arrests were made.
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