Newcastle Knights investigate allegations Dane Gagai was racially abused by fan at Hunter Stadium
DANE Gagai was allegedly racially abused on the day his grandmother passed away in an ugly aftermath to the NRL’s Indigenous Round.
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DANE Gagai was allegedly racially abused on the day his grandmother passed away in an ugly aftermath to the NRL’s Indigenous Round.
Newcastle are investigating claims Gagai was the target of a racial taunt when he broke down in tears at the end of Sunday’s humiliating 62-0 thrashing by Cronulla.
In a disturbing end to the NRL’s Indigenous round, former NRL player turned boxer Joe Williams expressed his outrage over allegations Gagai was called a “sooky black c ...” by a member of the crowd.
Williams claimed the incident happened when an emotional Gagai was being consoled by teammate Tariq Sims at the end of the match after Gagai reportedly lost his grandmother earlier that day.
Newcastle chief executive Matt Gidley said that the club had reported the allegations to the NRL’s integrity unit and there would be a full investigation.
“The club has been made aware of the allegations and we are taking them seriously,” Gidley said.
“Until such time as we establish the facts around this matter we can’t make any further comment.”
It is understood Gagai did not hear the comments at the time but has asked the club to look into the incident.
Gidley revealed coach Nathan Brown and Knights football manager Darren Mooney both spoke with Williams after the allegations surfaced on social media.
Williams was at the match and was told about the alleged incident by friends who were also at the game. It is believed the comments were heard in the western grandstand, where most seats are individually allocated, which could help with the club’s investigation.
Williams told NITV: “It is easy for a fan to think he was upset about the actual game but knowing a little bit deeper there have been some family issues going on and he has lost a close family member, not too long before the game.
“The poor kid’s upset and he is upset for a reason, and then we have clowns in the audience that were yelling out racial jibes and abuse towards Dane. That sort of rubbish is just not on mate.”
Gagai also received support from South Sydney superstar Greg Inglis and Petero Civoniceva.
Civoniceva told NITV News that if it is proven the perpetrator should be banned for life.
“To stoop to that level is the most upsetting thing, in a round where we are celebrating the contribution of Indigenous players and celebrating their culture. I think as a game we need to make a very strong statement,” Civoniceva said.
Williams said it was time for all fans to rally and call out any claims of racial abuse.
“We need to start looking to our non-Indigenous people in the crowds who hear these things,” he told NITV.
“We have to ask them to be allies for us. What you ignore is what you accept. That’s a packed stadium (on Sunday), and if this guy, if my friends are hearing it from a fair distance away there has to be people a lot closer that hear these sort of things.
“They haven’t said boo. It’s always the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people standing up and saying you know what, enough is enough, we are sick of this racism.”
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Originally published as Newcastle Knights investigate allegations Dane Gagai was racially abused by fan at Hunter Stadium
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