Magic Round spectator ejected from Suncorp Stadium after hurling abuse at footballer

A rugby league spectator has been ejected from Suncorp Stadium after directing abuse at a footballer during Magic Round on Sunday.

Wests Tigers star Jackson Hastings.

A rugby league spectator has been ejected from Suncorp Stadium after directing abuse at a footballer during Sunday’s Magic Round clash between the Wests Tigers and North Queensland Cowboys.

Late in the first half, halfback Jackson Hastings successfully converted teammate Luke Garner’s try from the sideline to give the Tigers a four-point lead in Brisbane.

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But immediately after kicking the conversion, Hastings spun around and pointed at a member of the crowd.

The 26-year-old promptly complained to officials at the ground before joining his teammates for the restart.

The Daily Telegraph reports that a fan was escorted from Suncorp Stadium for making “deeply personal” derogatory comments about Hastings’ family as he lined up the shot at goal.

“We still don’t know exactly what was said,” commentator Andrew Voss told Fox League.

“What we can tell you is that a fan was ejected at halftime, so those around the perpetrator gave him in.”

Fan escorted from Suncorp Stadium for making derogatory comments about Jackson Hastings’ family.

Hastings complained after a conversion. @[e-mail]/XZlR0hXMXI

— Emma Lawrence (@emmalawrence90) May 15, 2022

The incident comes after a physical altercation erupted at the northern end of Suncorp Stadium’s western stand on Friday evening, with approximately half a dozen men throwing punches and tumbling backwards over chairs.

Video of the brawl quickly circulated social media, with rugby league fans voicing their disgust at the crowd behaviour and lack of security intervention.

Speaking to The Courier Mail about the incident, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo slammed Queensland rugby league fans and threatened to impose bans.

“There’s absolutely no place for violence at our games,” he said.

“Aside from the action the authorities may take, we will also ban any fan who engages in violence in the grandstands. It will not be tolerated.

“Magic Round is a celebration of our game, our fans and families. Almost 150,000 fans will attend this weekend and we will speak with the Stadium, who oversees security, to ensure the right measures are in place.”