Anti-racist charity calls on GAA to make racial abuse a red card offence Press Release issued on behalf of Show Racism the Red Card and the Gaelic Players Association December 3, 2012 International anti-racist charity Show Racism the Red Card has welcomed the Ulster Council’s swift action in investigating claims of racial abuse during yesterday’s Ulster club football final and called for the GAA to make such incidents a red card offence.Speaking about the issue, co-ordinator for Show Racism the Red Card, Garrett Mullan said: “There can be place for racism in the GAA and no place for racism in Irish society. It is now clearly an issue for the GAA and a programme including rule changes and education is now needed.“Inter-county and top club players such as Eddie Lawlor, Lee Chin and Aaron Cunningham are role models for young people in how to respond to racism.“We would call on all units of the GAA to support moves to make racial abuse a red card offence. It is up to all involved in the game including supporters, players and administrators to recognise what is racism and how to respond to it.”To date County Boards have been without specific guidance as to the appropriate sporting sanction for incidents of racism. Earlier this year, two Wexford club players were suspended for two months each for alleged racist remarks made to inter-county star Lee Chin. The alleged remarks were raised in the referee’s report and were subsequently acted upon. Chin later testified that he had brought the matter to the attention of the referee after he himself had been yellow carded.GPA Chief Executive Dessie Farrell added: “We know that there can be no tolerance for racism within our games but there is an onus on everyone involved to be active in preventing abuse through education.“Through our long association with Show Racism the Red Card we are part of that process with players acting as ambassadors and role models for education campaigns. “We welcome the action of the Ulster Council who, like their counterparts in Wexford earlier this year, has moved quickly to deal with this serious matter.”
