Ashley Dodd said after the alleged racial slurs he received while playing footy last weekend, the community has stood up

Ashley Dodd said clubs could engage in racial equality training in an effort to prevent incidents like the one he was the victim in from happening again.

Gladstone rugby league legend Ashley 'Bundi' Dodd (right) said the community's response to the racial abuse he received had been overwhelming.

Ashley Dodd said as a veteran of the Gladstone rugby league scene, he did not want to make a big deal out of the alleged racial abuse he received at the weekend.

However, in a show of rugby league’s spirit the community, current and ex-players and Dodd’s current and former coaches have all rallied to support him.

Dodd was allegedly racially abused by a member of the crowd during a game against the Tannum Seagulls at Dennis Park last weekend.

Speaking to The Observer on Tuesday, the 48-year-old said when the incident happened he tried to take a diplomatic approach and not let it get to him.

“I’m a simple man who has played footy a long time and I have never heard that kind of stuff,” he said.

“I’m thick skinned, but it was more about making a stand for the young fellas in the team.

“I can handle being called different names on the footy field, but once the name calling reached a racial point, they crossed the line.”

Mr Dodd said he had since been inundated with messages of support from people, some of whom he had never met.

“I have received messages from people who were at the game who don’t even know me, people messaging me to see how I felt and ex-players checking up on me too,” he said.

“It is unbelievable, I didn’t want to make a big thing of it but everyone is of the same opinion and that’s the difference.”

Dodd said he was a simple person who was unsure whether he wanted to see Gladstone Rugby League Association take action.

“Richard Duff (GRLA President) rang me yesterday to see how I was and ask a few questions about things so it was good,” he said.

“He asked for a bit of feedback as well on how to deal with it and it’s hard because it (racism) is just there, you know?

“I think education is a good thing, but how do you police that? It is pretty hard really.”

Dodd said educational programs relating to racial equality could be a key to stamping out confronting incidents in future.

“When I am at work and doing training we do some refresher training every couple of years,” he said.

“Maybe that is something which regional rugby league needs to look at investing in in future, some training regarding racism.”