RACISM IN THE GAA

evolvingtipperary101

I'm starting this thread because I don't think this will be the last incident of thsi nature in the coming years and decades. Fair play to the Waterford minors for walking off and protesting this incident. Perhaps, a culture of similiar walk offs will prevent this type of thing from happening in the future. I wonder might it help the refs in their battle against abuse.

"A minor inter-county hurling challenge match between Offaly and Waterford was abandoned following an alleged incident of racist abuse.

The match, played two weeks ago in Dunmore Training Centre near Kilkenny, was into the second half when a Waterford forward is alleged to have been verbally abused by an Offaly opponent, leading to the Waterford team walking off the pitch in protest.

It’s understood the player, a highly talented young forward from one of the Waterford city clubs, has experienced similar abuse in previous matches at club and schools level.

While Waterford were incensed over the incident and unrepentant in taking the stand they did, the matter has been resolved between the counties and Waterford are happy to “move on”.

The hurler accused of the abuse is believed to have accepted his wrongdoing and written a letter of apology to the Waterford player while sources say that Offaly officials were keen to be seen not to condone the behaviour and made their remorse known on the night. There isn’t expected to be any further action taken."

Waterford minors walk off after hurler was racially abused in challenge against Offaly - Independent.ie

PeggyShippen

It's an issue ,has been for ages and I think it's still under reported . It's totally unacceptable. Sanctions need to be bigger . I think Warwickshire have been pushing for bigger sanctions coming from a more diverse background in the UK Midlands. They've had a player badly abused..

Look iv a Church of Ireland mate who hurled and his brothers did aswell. I asked him if he ever had hassle. He said 'tonnes of it' from 'jaffa' upwards..( orange centre) . We've very few Protestants, Eastern Europeans playing our games.

Shank Williams

Crickets in here but the GAA is rife with it- tribalism comes built in- the worst **** I’ve ever heard someone say to another person was in a GAA match (abuse over a relative of person who had committed suicide- all forgiven in the name of getting an edge- dead right that Eastern European /people of African descent are conspicuous by their absence when that is not the case on other sports.

There's a sledging problem where it's almost a case of a person can say anything they want to you on a GAA field and then you are expected to shake that person's hand at the final whistle. There's something very wrong when not shaking an opponents hand is seen as more unacceptable than verbally abusing an opponent.

The racism issue is difficult to properly gauge yet as the playing pool still isn't the most diverse but just from looking at underage in my own club things are beginning to change a bit in that respect. But I have no doubt we will more frequently hear about incidents such as this in the future.

brokenbad

Sledging in particular is a blight on the game.

Doesn't just happen on the pitch either - non playing staff get involved too......a most notable case was a few years back involving a high profile inter county match official who made personal abuse at the referee during a club match.

Referee reported it - the perpetrator got a ban - subsequently appealed it and got away scot free because of who he was....

Makes a mockery of the whole "Give Respect - Get Respect" ethos

CaboRoig

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120365740#Comment_120365740

Couldn't agree more with you. I've seen things in all sports and thought to myself, how the hell would you shake hands with that guy after the final whistle?

On the racism thing, thankfully I've not seen anything during my time involved. We have an African born lad on our senior team and he's extremely popular with the rest of the lads and tells me he's never had anything racist said to him since he joined us 4 years ago. And strangely, he took up a bit of junior soccer last year to keep fit for the GAA and one of his team mates got suspended for racially abusing an opponent!

Coillte_Bhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120365915#Comment_120365915

Who was involved in this?

brokenbad

https://m.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/this-is-not-a-witch-hunt-referee-at-centre-of-brian-gavin-controversy-wants-answers-31466229.html

evolvingtipperary101

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120373850#Comment_120373850

I'm not trying to be smart but that belongs on the abuse of referees thread and is from 8 years ago.

keeponhurling

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058287981/racism-in-the-gaa

Well, the one positive in this incident is that the team walked off to protest - leaving people in no doubt that this is not acceptable.

Easier to do in a challenge match admittedly, but fair play to the Waterford lads here.

kksaints

https://twitter.com/deangoodison/status/1644724703775399937?t=xzpy0ESRZJ8Fou_k4gDoig&s=19

Rotten stuff, I don't particularly like Lee Chin after the Wexford FC playoff in 2016 nonsense but nobody deserves crap like racist abuse. Hope the "supporter" gets a harsh punishment.

evolvingtipperary101

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120455233#Comment_120455233

Disgusting stuff. That person should be banned from all GAA grounds for ten years.

evolvingtipperary101

...

Ragwort and Stones

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120455233#Comment_120455233

I find your comment ridiculous. Why has not playing a poxy soccer match, when he was 23, and your dislike of him to be put front and centre of a post about the man being racially abused?

Time and place. Ballsology.

thefa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120352379#Comment_120352379

Few Protestants and Eastern Europeans playing GAA is not something I would think is linked to racism, not these days at the very least.

The reality is the sports are not easy to play at a casual level and vast majority playing will have started in primary school. Add to that coming from a background where sports like soccer were prioritised, have more media coverage and compete in similar time slots.

Ragwort and Stones

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120456607#Comment_120456607

A local NS had two Ukrainian boys star in a Cumann na Mbunscol football final.

I think gaelic football is easy to play. Kick, catch and handpass are easy enough, good coordination skills.

Hurling can frighten other nationalities a bit more.

thefa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120457224#Comment_120457224

Completely agree, football way easier than hurling but even football is not inviting unless you started playing underage with your mates in my opinion.

I was involved up to recently with a rural football club and primary school age is key to get newer families to the community involved.

evolvingtipperary101

https://twitter.com/buff_egan/status/1645151758316888065?s=20

....

Corcaigh84

Shocking stuff, bans need to happen, and if they can't ID the offender, the club needs a major fine to send a message.

Shank Williams

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120456607#Comment_120456607

Gaelic football is one of the least skilled ball sports so not sure what you are on about

giveitholly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120460272#Comment_120460272

The offender was not from the club where the match took place

thefa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120460279#Comment_120460279

Give the full sentence another go there. Bit more to it than your response implies.

As for one of the least skilled, you’re entitled to an opinion I guess.

Asdfgh2020

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120460281#Comment_120460281

Was the match abandoned…? Anyone any idea if the venue Wexford or Tipp…? Definitely wasn’t one of the regular grounds

callaway92

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120460352#Comment_120460352

Was in Carrick Davin’s pitch in Tipp. Called off 68th minute

evolvingtipperary101

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120460352#Comment_120460352

Tipperary county board condemn racial abuse of Wexford's Lee Chin (irishexaminer.com)

giveitholly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120460352#Comment_120460352

Was on in Carrick on Suir. Was a fundraiser organised by the local club. The offender is from another club in the South of the county. Whether he is an actual member of his home club is another matter. Either way this should be a case for the Gardai

newhouse87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120460358#Comment_120460358

swans pitch

NIMAN

The racist language used was shocking and I hope they are able to identify the perpetrator and ban him. Someone knows who he is.

Also, the fact that there was a fight/scuffle in a CHARITY match points to other issues in the GAA.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120461762#Comment_120461762

How can they ban him ?

Maybe can be banned from his local club house but not club matches or Tipp matches.

NIMAN

Well even a ban from his local club would be a start.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120461833#Comment_120461833

If he has one. Lots of GAA fans don't.

The Gardai is the only solution that might get some punishment for him.