Minister of State for Integration Conor Lenihan today condemned as “despicable” the racist abuse alleged to have been suffered by a young GAA player at a junior club match in Carlow last week.
Mr Lenihan said he had received assurances from the GAA that the incident which is said to have taken place during a county under-14 football semi-final between Éire Óg and their neighbours from Carlow town, O’Hanrahan’s, would be thoroughly investigated.
Éire Óg club player Teboga Sebala (12), who is originally from Nigeria but has been living in Carlow for four years, is reported to have been the subject of persistent racist taunts by several spectators during the match and to what one parent described as “obscene racial abuse”.
Mr Lenihan said: “This kind of abuse is totally unacceptable and this kind of behaviour needs to be stamped out whether on the football field or else where.” Speaking on the fringes of a Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, Mr Lenihan said: “When it comes to racist attacks, Ireland falls mid-table in comparison to other European countries but even one racist attack is one attack too many”.
“I would be very concerned if racist behaviour of this nature were to deter people of an immigrant background, especially young people, from participating in sport because such participation is a key element in the integration of newcomers into Irish society.
The GAA confirmed that the matter was being investigated by the Carlow County Board and its underage sector “with a view to having the perpetrators severely sanctioned”.
A spokesman said the sanction imposed would depend on what category of offence is deemed to have occurred.
But he said a racist incident might be considered to have discredited the association which carries a minimum penalty of an 8-week suspension and can result in disqualification, debarment or expulsion from the organisation.
In a statement, the GAA said it is totally opposed to racism in any form and fully committed to sporting and cultural integration.
“The GAA’s total rejection of racism and its pro-activity in integration renders the reported incident in Carlow, albeit an isolated one, a huge disappointment,” it said.
It offered its “unreserved” apologies to Teboga and his family and pledged to continue to strive to ensure integration continues apace and “that racism if and when it manifests itself is effectively and adequately dealt with.”
A joint statement by the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and the Show Racism the Red Card campaign said: “There is a challenge of integration in Ireland and dealing with racism is part of that challenge. The case of Teboga Sebala has highlighted this challenge”.
GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell welcomed what he described as the GAA’s and the Carlow County Board’s “pro-activity with regard to the incident”.
The GAA plans to bring several motions to its annual congress next year designed to enshrine specific anti-racism rules in its official rule book.
