MPFNL: Spectator accused of racially abusing Pearcedale’s Agape Patolo

An investigation is set to be launched after a spectator was accused of making racist remarks towards a player in a Victorian local footy game on Saturday.

Agape Patolo playing for Karingal. Picture: Valeriu Campan

An investigation is set to be launched after a spectator was accused of making racist remarks towards Karingal ruckman Agape Patolo during Saturday’s MPFNL Division 2 game against Pearcedale.

Karingal, Pearcedale and the Mornington Peninsula league board are working together after Karingal formally requested an investigation.

“We are working with both Pearcedale FNC and Karingal FNC through this process,’’ AFL South East’s Haydn O’Connor said.

In a volatile atmosphere at the end of the third quarter, Patolo was reported by the field umpire for striking, and Karingal accepted the two week early guilty plea.

Patolo was sent off and that’s when the racist remarks were allegedly made. Pearcedale won the game by 69 points, 16.20 (116) to 6.11 (47).

It’s understood AFL South East received several emails over the past few days from concerned witnesses at the game, also requesting the league investigate.

The AFL announced last year any fans found guilty by the league of racial vilification would be hit with lifetime bans from attending AFL games.