Group 20 executives are cracking down on crowd behaviour after derogatory and racially abusive language was allegedly overheard during the weekend’s semi-finals matches at West Wyalong and Yanco.
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The extent of the abuse was outlined in a post on the Group 20 rugby league Facebook page.
Players, spectators and officials had all allegedly been targeted and Group 20 secretary Rocci DiSalvatore said enough was enough.
“Everyone’s there to enjoy five great games of football and enjoy themselves, not to listen to idiots [hurl abuse],” DiSalvatore said.
“We had a couple ladies come and complain and they said ‘it was disgraceful the way some other supporters acted’.
“There’s young kids at the footy and some people said they won’t be coming again if it continues.”
According to people at the grounds DiSalvatore has spoken to, it’s a problem that’s been ongoing.
“We’ve [Group 20 executives] only seen it first hand at the semi-finals but people have said it’s been happening all year,” he said.
DiSalvatore encouraged supporters to alert the Group 20 executives or their club officials of any ill behaviour.
He also put the onus back on clubs to deal with crowd behaviour at their home games.
“The clubs have to get on board if we want to get rid of the riff-raff,” DiSalvatore said.
“It might be just one bad egg but you still have to get rid of that one.”
The suspected perpetrators have been identified to the Group 20 executives who are investigating the matter.
DiSalvatore said there would be tough penalties imposed on not only the offenders but also potentially clubs.
“We’re still going to investigate [the accusations] and if we find anyone [who’s guilty], they will be harshly treated,” DiSalvatore said.
“If they represent a club, we’re coming down hard on the club as well.
“We’re taking a zero tolerance stance, it gives the group a bad name.”
DiSalvatore said the abuse had the potential to deter a number of people from attending games across the region.
“Like it said on the Facebook post, without referees we don’t have a game, without families we don’t have spectators, without spectators we don’t have a club, without clubs we don’t have a competition,” he said.
