Carlton and Essendon condemn racial slur against Blues defender ‘deeply hurtful’
Carlton defender Vaomua Laloifi has revealed a spectator in the crowd made a racial slur during the Blues’ win over Essendon at Windy Hill, with the AFL unit investigating the case.
Laloifi told the club he was focused on the third quarter, with the Blues citing the AFL’s integrity department. The person has not been identified.
The Blues are currently in contact with the AFL Integrity Unit and will work with the club to provide support and investigate the matter. Carlton chairman Brian Cook said what happened to Laloifi was “very sad.
“We are outraged as a club and someone we care about so much that Mua, who brings joy and love to so many people, will subject himself to immorality,” he said. “Such behavior is not acceptable at any level of society, not just football. Coming to football should be a good and fun place for everyone, not such a place for those who ignorant and fanatical.
“Our focus and our energy continues to be on doing everything we possibly can to support Mua during this time, who has been put in a position that no person deserves to experience.”
Essendon released a statement in the wake of the news, stating “the club strongly condemns this behaviour.”
“Vilification, racial or otherwise, has absolutely no place in our society. We must continue to use our platform as a club to call out this behaviour and make a stand against this hateful and hurtful act,” the statement read.
“The matter has been referred to the AFL’s Integrity Unit. The Club will now work to identify the individual with the view to educate and, where possible, apply the appropriate punishments.
“Essendon Football Club sincerely apologises to Laloifi and the Carlton Football Club for this abhorrent behaviour.”
The defender has played 44 games since debuting in 2020 and has become a fan favourite after opting to continue her football development instead of representing her birth country of Samoa in basketball.
Since the start of the 2023 AFL and AFLW seasons, the AFL integrity unit has issued 17 lifetime bans for fans who have been found guilty of racial vilification.
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