Footballer Targeted with Vile Online Attacks
Mabior Chol, a prominent player for Hawthorn Football Club, has been subjected to deeply offensive racist messages on social media following his team’s recent defeat. The abuse was delivered via direct messages on Instagram after Hawthorn’s loss to the Western Bulldogs on Friday night. Chol, who has South Sudanese heritage, publicly shared a screenshot of the abhorrent comments, accompanied by a message to the perpetrator stating, “You can talk s*** all you want but don’t be like this guy.”
The incident has drawn swift condemnation from both Hawthorn and the Australian Football League (AFL). Chol, a forward, contributed significantly in the match, kicking an equal game-high three goals in Hawthorn’s narrow 12.5 (77) to 9.17 (71) defeat at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This is not the first time the 29-year-old, a former player for Gold Coast and Richmond, has endured racial abuse during his decade-long AFL career.
Investigation Underway into Online Abuse
In response to the latest attack, Hawthorn and the AFL integrity unit have confirmed a joint investigation is underway. If the individual responsible for sending the messages is identified, they face potential sanctions, including a ban from attending AFL matches. AFL executive Andrew Dillon emphasized the zero-tolerance policy towards such behavior, stating, “Racism has no place anywhere, anytime – not in our game, not in the community and not online.”
Dillon further articulated that no player, or any individual, should be subjected to such treatment. “To be clear, if you think this behaviour is acceptable, then you are not welcome in our game,” he added. He commended Chol’s “courage to call this out” and confirmed that the immediate priority is providing support to the player and the Hawthorn Football Club.
Club Vows Support for Player
Hawthorn CEO Ash Klein echoed these sentiments, unequivocally stating that racist behavior is “simply not acceptable.” Klein reiterated the club’s unwavering support for Chol, emphasizing that racism has no place in the sport or society. “If you are the sort of person who thinks it’s OK to make a comment or send a message like this, we don’t want you as part of our game,” Klein declared.
The club leadership praised Chol’s bravery in bringing the issue to light and affirmed their commitment to providing comprehensive support. “Our immediate focus is on wrapping our arms around and supporting Mabior,” Klein concluded.
