24 Dec 2012

Adelaide man banned for racial abuse of Ifill

5:37 am on 24 December 2012

An Adelaide man has been banned from attending any A-League football matches for two years following the Paul Ifill racial abuse incident.

The man was found to have breached the Football Federation Australia's Spectator Code of Behaviour during last Sunday's A-League match between Adelaide United and Wellington Phoenix at Hindmarsh Stadium.

The Adelaide United Football Club also cancelled membership held by the man.

The Phoenix star Ifill said, at the time, a line had been crossed when he was racially abused.

Ifill, among the A-League's elite players, was understood to have been repeatedly called a racially derogatory term when substituted during Wellington's 3-1 loss.

SA Police and security staff at Hindmarsh Stadium were made aware of the racial abuse, which came as Ifill was substituted in the 61st minute.

The FFA's code of behaviour says spectators must respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person regardless of their gender, ability, race, colour, religion, language, politics, national or ethnic origin.

The FFA says compliance with the code is a condition of entry to all matches under its jurisdiction.