Port star Willie Rioli tackles online racism after Gather Round scuffle
A Port Adelaide star has spoken out about the hurt and remorse caused by a scathing social media post after a late game Gather Round scuffle.
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Star Port Adelaide footballer Willie Rioli has spoken out for the first time since copping racial abuse on social media after Sunday night’s Gather Round win over the Hawks.
Involved in a scuffle late in the game, Changkouth Jiath knocked Rioli to the floor after the Power forward taunted the Hawks defender before kicking a goal.
Rioli highlighted his “hatred” of the Hawks in a social media post after the game, sharing a video of the passage of play, and a scathing caption.
“Play with fire, your gonna get burnt, my hatred for this club goes way pass last year antics, what they did to my dad, and my brother, is why I can’t stand them, not the players #Cococlub (sic),” the post read.
Rioli deleted the post and deactivated his Instagram account on Tuesday after he was granted leave from Port Adelaide.
Just one day after, Rioli returned to the club, training with his team at Alberton on Wednesday.
“Yeah, I’m all right, it blows over pretty quickly,” Rioli told 9News.
“I’ve got a lot of support around me, it just comes with this industry.”
Rioli said he would “see how I go” before returning for this weekend’s match up between Power and the Sydney Swans.
“I’m more hurt for my family back home who read into all that stuff, I don’t read into it,” he said.
“I’m one of those people who let my emotions get the best of me.
“I’m one of those guys that play a bit old school, a bit aggressively but it doesn’t really show the person I really am.”
Rioli said he was “really close” with Hawks coach Sam Mitchell and that he’d “sent him an apology”.
Power coach Ken Hinkley labelled racism a “disgrace” and said Rioli had copped more racial abuse than any other person he had been involved with.
Port Adelaide’s next encounter with the Hawks comes in July.
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Originally published as Port star Willie Rioli tackles online racism after Gather Round scuffle
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