NRL 2023: Father of boy accused of Latrell Mitchell racial abuse speaks to police
The father of the 15-year-old boy facing a life ban for allegedly racially abusing Latrell Mitchell has spoken to police about the incident.
NRL
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The father of a 15-year-old boy facing a life ban from the NRL for allegedly racially abusing star footballer Latrell Mitchell told police his son “shouldn’t have said what he said.’’
Police and security officers used CCTV footage at Penrith’s Bluebet Stadium to track down the teenager’s father, where they questioned him about the Thursday night incident that has been lambasted by the state’s most influential figures including NSW premier Dominic Perrottet, NRL bosses Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo, Roosters coach Trent Robinson and NRL champions including Nicho Hynes and Jarome Luai.
It is believed the teenager had been sitting in a different area of the stadium to his father prior to approaching the player’s tunnel at halftime of Penrith’s win over South Sydney on Thursday night.
The teenager is alleged to have called Mitchell a “Black Dog” as the South Sydney star made his way towards the dressing room.
Wearing a Roosters jersey over a hoodie, the teenager hid and fled on foot as soon as Mitchell called upon security to intervene. Police and venue immediately analysed footage before identifying the culprit.
Police confirmed they were investigating.
“Detectives attached to Nepean Police Area Command are working with the NSW Police Youth Command and the NRL’s Integrity Unit following a reported incident during a match at Penrith,” a police statement read.
A clearly upset Mitchell was ushered to the dressing rooms by concerned teammates who also reacted when they heard the slur. He did not want to speak publicly about the incident after the game.
Abdo said it took a lot of courage for Mitchell to call out the comments and encouraged others in the game to do the same.
The NRL boss stopped short of promising a lifetime ban and said the game would be open to helping educate the offender.
“We’ve taken strong action in the past,” Abdo said. “Sometimes matters are very delicate so we need to think innovatively around what we do to make sure we are genuinely making a difference. Sanction is part of it, but rehabilitation and understanding is also part of it too.
“You can’t take for granted that being part of rugby league means you have to adhere to certain standards and beliefs.”
Mitchell has returned to his farm in Taree to spend time with his family, but is expected back in Sydney on Sunday when he is likely to be in the crowd for the Tim Tszyu-Tony Harrison bout.
His Taree trip was pre-planned with the Rabbitohs having a long turnaround before their next clash, against arch rivals the Roosters next Friday.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has called on the NRL to issue a life ban to the perpetrator.
“There is no place for racism at sporting games or anywhere in NSW,” Perrottet said.
“When it happens, it should be stamped out immediately. There should be life bans in place and I call on the NRL to take that action.
“We’ve got to take leadership here and we’ve seen sporting codes take action to stamp this behaviour out whenever it happens. I don’t care how old the person is who is involved in racist behaviour at sporting events. It’s a disgrace. It should be stamped out and there should be life bans in place and I call on the NRL to do it.”
In 2018, Souths great Greg Inglis was also subjected to racial abuse from a fan in Penrith.
V’landys said the behaviour was “inexcusable”
“I feel sorry for Latrell,” V’landys said. “This is what he has gone through his whole life, it’s not just an isolated situation.
“He doesn’t deserve it. We’re all human, would you like to be treated like that as a human? No you wouldn’t.
“We need to educate people better.”
‘SH*T AND DISGUSTING’: COOK, CLEARY WEIGH IN ON LATRELL ABUSE
—Michael Carayannis, Martin Gabor
A shattered Damien Cook can’t comprehend how racism remains so prevalent in 2023 after teammate Latrell Mitchell was the victim of vile abuse during Thursday’s loss to Penrith.
Cook was in the tunnel at halftime when a young fan reportedly wearing a Roosters jersey allegedly hurled a vulgar racial slur at the Indigenous superstar as he was coming from the field.
It’s the second time in five years this has happened in a match in Penrith between the two sides after South Sydney fullback Greg Inglis was the victim of racial abuse in 2018 at the same venue.
The NRL condemned the incident in a statement on Thursday night, while the Panthers said they’d work with the integrity unit to find the culprit.
“It’s 2023 and this is still happening. It’s an absolute joke,” Cook told the NCA NewsWire.
“I was right behind and I saw Latrell’s reaction and that he was upset at what happened – as you would be. I just know that the club out here – Penrith – will do the right thing and sort it out. They’ll find out who it was and they’ll sort it out.
“It doesn’t matter how old the person was, he should know better.
“I haven’t checked on him right after the game, but this isn’t just about Latrell. It’s about racism and why this is still happening in 2023. It’s an absolute joke.
“I feel bad that he’s had to go through this during a game and I have no doubt that Penrith will sort this out.”
Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou called for life bans to be handed out to so-called supporters during a powerful post-game address – a sentiment echoed by Panthers star Nathan Cleary.
“They’re not fans if they’re saying that stuff,” Cleary said.
“I don’t care who it’s against – they’re not fans. True fans of the game would want to build their players up. There is no place for that stuff and they should never be allowed in the NRL.”
Cleary was shocked when he heard what was allegedly said and called on everyone in the game and the wider community to pull their heads in.
“Excuse my French, but that’s just sh*t,” he said.
“I don’t know why people still do that stuff. Latrell is such a pivotal person in our game and he brings fans in to watch. I always enjoy watching him, I always enjoy coming up against him and I enjoy playing with him.
“For some reason, people in this world want to always be negative. Stuff like that is just ridiculous.
“No matter where it is, there is no point in a game where you should feel like you have the right to say that to a player – whether that’s an opposing player, whether you don’t like them, whether they’re on your team or if they’re not playing well.
“You can criticise their game, but in terms of racial or anything on those lines, that’s totally crossing the line. I hope they never come back here.”
Cleary has played against Mitchell in big games but they’ve also lined up alongside each other for the Blues and won the World Cup just a few months ago.
The champion halfback said he’d spoken with Mitchell about the abuse he’d copped in the past, which hasn’t been limited to what we see on the field.
“He’s explained to the boys at times a little bit. Half the time it’s there for everyone to see. It’s either online or it’s at games. It’s just disgusting. I honestly feel for him,” he said.
“He’s such a big persona in the game and people just want to drag you down when you’re successful and doing well. The racial stuff is ridiculous.”
SOUTHS CALL FOR LIFE BANS OVER LATRELL ABUSE
—Michael Carayannis, Martin Gabor
A fan was removed from Penrith’s BlueBet Stadium on Thursday night after allegedly making a racial slur against South Sydney star Latrell Mitchell.
Mitchell was allegedly called a “black dog” as the players came from the field at halftime of the Panthers’ 16-10 win over the Rabbitohs.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Mitchell and several teammates heard the alleged slur before making an official complaint.
Security removed the fan during the halftime break and police immediately launched an investigation.
Police were reviewing video footage and were seen questioning people in the area where the incident is alleged to have occurred.
It is understood the alleged offender was a teenager who was wearing an NRL jersey - not a Penrith or South Sydney supporter.
The NRL is aware of the incident and will review the CCTV footage on Friday morning.
Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou was understandably furious in the post-match press conference.
“It happened,” he said of the alleged racial abuse.
“It’s not the first time we’ve come here as a club and our players have been racially abused.
“Where does it end? It’s just not on.
“I shouldn’t have to be able to come here as a coach and lead a team of players in here to be racially abused.”
"It's not the first time we've come here as a club and our players have been racially abused" pic.twitter.com/ef4kXmN4xx
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) March 9, 2023
Demetriou said Mitchell was “sick” of the abuse and called for offenders to be rubbed out of rugby league for good.
“It’s not what our game’s about and we have to stamp it out completely,” Demetriou said.
“NRL, clubs, they have to get rid of it.
“Life bans. Anyone who wants to make racial abuse, get them out of the game. We don’t want their support. It’s got to end.
Asked about Mitchell’s wellbeing, Demetriou said: “He’s sick of it. Why wouldn’t he be?”
“He should be able to come here as a star of our game and not be racially abused.
Who cares what colour he is? I don’t understand how that happens in this day and age.
“I can’t get my head around how a young kid thinks that is the language to be using. I don’t care what jersey he’s wearing.”
Demetriou revealed the Rabbitohs want the alleged offender prosecuted.
“From what I understand, the security have done a great job identifying who it is. The club has done a great job identifying who it is, and now we’ll take it through the police,” he said.
“We’ll go all the way, as far as we can with it.”
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo vowed to investigate the matter.
“Any form of racism or vilification will not be tolerated in our sport. We will not accept this behaviour from anyone,: he said.
“We are working with the stadium and the club to get all the facts. The Integrity Unit will investigate fully.
“We will stand behind our players and commend them for calling out this behaviour.”
Mitchell was interviewed by Channel 9 after the game but it’s believed he only agreed to it on the proviso he wasn’t asked about the allegations.
“It was definitely a special one,” Mitchell said of the 16-10 defeat.
“Scoreboard was irrelevant. It was just time. Rugby league was played and the fans came out. We had a packed house tonight and that’s what they came to watch.”
“It’s gonna hurt, obviously we’re going to go back to the drawing board and do it a bit different next week.
“We’ve got nothing to lose. It’s the start of the season. We’re ready to go again and take our learnings.
“They were the better team tonight, end of story.”
It is not the first time Mitchell has faced racist attacks.
In 2021, he reported two men to police after they sent him racially abusive social media messages.
Two men, including one from Mitchell’s hometown of Taree, were charged with ‘use carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence’.
The incident on Thursday night did not seem to affect Mitchell’s on-field performance as he finished with 10 runs for 100m, a game-high six tackle busts and almost helped engineer a remarkable comeback after trailing 16-0.
The 25-year-old fullback pulled off a trysaving tackle on Panthers back-rower Luke Garner in the first half that prevented a certain four-pointer.
The incident at BlueBet Stadium comes five years after former South Sydney superstar Greg Inglis was the victim of an alleged racial slur during a game against the Panthers at the same ground.
Two people were given indefinite bans in 2018 after allegedly calling Inglis a ‘’black dog’’ during South Sydney’s defeat.
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