South Sydney coach in disbelief after Latrell Mitchell racially abused in Penrith

Fuming South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou wants severe punishments angry after his star Latrell Mitchell copped racial abuse.

Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou has called on the NRL to hand out life bans to any fans who racially abuse players after Latrell Mitchell was the victim of an alleged slur during Thursday night’s game in Penrith.

Demetriou was both furious and deeply saddened by the ugly scenes at half-time when a young supporter allegedly abused the South Sydney fullback as he headed up the tunnel.

It’s not the first time an Indigenous South Sydney player has been targeted in Penrith with Greg Inglis abused during a match in 2018.

“It’s not a claim. It happened. It’s not the first time we’ve come here as a club and our players have been racially abused,” Demetriou said after his side’s 16-10 loss.

“Where does it end? It’s just not on. I shouldn’t have to come here as a coach and lead a group of players to be racially abused. It’s not on. It’s not what our game is about and we have to stamp it out completely.

“The NRL clubs have to get rid of it. Life bans, anybody wants to racially abuse, get them out of the game, we don’t want their support. It has to end.”

Penrith, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 09: Latrell Mitchell and Damien Cook of the Rabbitohs look dejected after the Rabbitohs conceded a try during the round two NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at BlueBet Stadium on March 09, 2023 in Penrith, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Mitchell spoke after the game but wasn’t asked about the devastating scenes at half-time which show society still has a very long way to go when it comes to racism.

“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? It’s not on,” his coach said.

“I don’t understand how that happens in our day and age. I can’t get my head around how a young kid thinks that’s the language to be using. I don’t care what jersey he’s wearing. Get them out of our game.

“Latrell answers his critics with his character every week. He continually shows the quality person that he is. This is not something Latrell just cops on the footy field, this is something he’s had to deal with his whole life. All Indigenous people do.

“I can’t get my head around it to be honest, I don’t understand in Australia how anyone can be raised like that. Latrell is a real role model for our game, we love him at our club, he stands for Indigenous people and he stands for good people.

“He’ll handle it and we’ll handle it and we’ll support him as a club. But he shouldn’t have to handle it, he shouldn’t have to keep dealing with this. It’s just rubbish.”

The Panthers released a statement afterwards and said they’d work with the NRL integrity unit to investigate the incident.

“From what I understand, security have done a great job identifying who it is, the club has done a great job of identifying who it is and now we’ll take it through the police,” Demetriou said.

“We’ll go all the way, as far as we can with it. As a club, we’ll stand right by Latrell. It’s just not on. As far as I’m concerned, we go as far as we can take it.”

Latrell Mitchell of the Rabbitohs interacts with in Penrith (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Mitchell is one of the biggest names in the game and has emerged as a terrific ambassador for Indigenous people, but there’s a fear him and other stars could be forced out of the sport if they continue to cop such vile abuse.

“I just get worried about Latrell or any Indigenous player in our organisation,” Demetriou said.

“Where, as a game, do we say ‘no, this isn’t happening’? There has to be hard and fast rules, if anyone comes close to getting racial they are completely ruled out of our game.

“If it’s a young kid, pull his parents out as well. It’s just not on. Why should you have to cop it?

“I can’t understand how he feels, I haven’t had to grow up with this but he has. If it was my child I’d be ashamed and embarrassed that my child even thought to speak like that.”