The National Rugby League says it's speaking with a junior rugby league player believed to have racially abused the Brisbane Broncos player Ben Barba on social media.
Its intervention came as Barba's father Ken called on the governing body to crack down on racism, saying his son was spat on during games for the Bulldogs last year.
The 18-year-old junior player, who is registered with a country rugby league club, allegedly abused Barba on the website Instagram last Friday, the night Barba made his Brisbane debut against the Bulldogs.
The NRL chief operating officer Jim Doyle says it's is a serious matter and racism will not be tolerated in any form.
