Shane Warne: AFL star’s booing not racially motivated

The bowler was harshly criticized for his stance on the jeering against Adam Goodes

SYDNEY: Australia's race discrimination commissioner has condemned the persistent booing of one of the nation's most high-profile indigenous athletes, warning it has gone beyond sport and become a blight on the country.

Sydney Swans' Australian Rules football star Adam Goodes, a former Australian of the Year, has been the target of a barrage of jeers during matches this season, sparking fears he may quit after the abuse escalated and he ruled himself out of an AFL fixture this weekend.

Goodes is contemplating retirement due to the racial abuse he has been receiving. PHOTO COURTESY: SBS

Many believe it is racially motivated and stems from him taking exception to being called an ape by a young spectator at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2013, with the abuse reportedly intensifying after he performed an Aboriginal war dance during a match in May.

However, according to former Australian cricketer Shane Warne, the jeering is not grounded in racial bias reported The Guardian.

This whole Adam Goodes drama is ridiculous. The public can boo or chant whoever's name they want ! It's nothing to do with being racist....

— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) July 30, 2015

He added:

Hilarious & so over the top. The people that want to voice their hysteria can go for it !!!!! https://t.co/b1oLJALWtH

— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) July 30, 2015

According to Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane though, there is no doubt that there are racial undertones in the crowds chants.

"Let me be clear. There is no question that the booing is of an ugly and unedifying nature," he said during a speech on Wednesday evening.

"It has everything to do with Goodes standing up against racism and speaking out about indigenous issues.

New South Wales state Premier Mike Baird called Goodes one of the sport's greatest ever players and said it was "unacceptable" he was being treated in such a way.

"The relentless booing of Adam Goodes breaks the spirit of good sportsmanship," he wrote in a Facebook post. "It must stop."

Soutphommasane agreed that it had gone too far.

"The vilification has got to stop. Because it is doing damage -- not just to the game of AFL but also to our society," he said.

Twitter also reacted to Warne's Tweets which surprisingly had voiced a differing opinion on the matter.

@ShaneWarne Except chanting that someone is an "ape" is pretty racist

— Imran (@_imrank) July 30, 2015

https://twitter.com/KevinAirs442/status/626647758770864128

https://twitter.com/adambrereton/status/626645470794940416

https://twitter.com/APixelShort/status/626648283314700288

https://twitter.com/LuxAdams/status/626655772147998720