South African captain Graeme Smith backed a get-tough approach to fight the racial abuse of players on Tuesday, saying cricket authorities needed to crack down on the problem the way soccer had.
Smith, whose players have complained of racists taunts during their tour of Australia, said it was up to the International Cricket Council, the sports governing body, to rein in the problem.
”I think the ICC need to be strong on it,” he said.
”I think it’s something that they need to — just like [soccer’s governing body] Fifa — be very strong on it and keep the game clean.
”It’s up to them to take responsibility for it. If it’s happening constantly in one place then they do need to take some action.”
The ICC has announced that it will investigate ongoing complaints by South African players arising from their Australian tour by sending India’s Solicitor General Goolam Vahanvati to Australia in mid-February to compile a report on the problem.
The ICC’s action follows an official complaint from the United Cricket Board of South Africa.
Vahanvati will speak to venue staff, representatives of Cricket Australia and various ICC officials.
The ICC said he would also travel to South Africa and Sri Lanka to interview players and officials from all three sides taking part in the recent Test and current one-day international series.
Smith said the South Africans had made their feelings clear on the issue but would not allow the problem to go unanswered.
”It’s a concern if it’s happening — if it’s not happening it’s fine,” he said.
”If it’s still going on at grounds we’re going to be very disappointed and unhappy about it.
”We have made a number of [press] releases on the subject. If it happens again I will react.”
But Sri Lankan coach Tom Moody said his players had not experienced any problems in Australia.
”No. Nothing at all,” Moody said.
”Our guys haven’t had any experience whatsoever in regards to that.”
Cricket Australia has called for lifetime bans on supporters found guilty of racial abuse.
In a statement released on Tuesday, chief executive James Sutherland said spectators who racially-abused players should either face the ban or heavy fines.
Sutherland said tougher penalties were needed to ”allow cricket administrators globally to ban for life or heavily fine the small handful of miscreants who offend with weak-minded racist taunts from the relative anonymity of packed stadiums”.
ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed in a statement that the sport needed to act appropriately against racism.
”Racism in any form is abhorrent and everyone in cricket is unhappy with the way in which players from international teams have been subjected to racist abuse in Australia,” Speed said.
He said Cricket Australia, Sri Lanka Cricket and the United Cricket Board of South Africa had pledged to support Vahanvati and the process.
The ICC board will consider Vahanvati’s report at their meeting in Dubai on March 20-21. – AFP
