- A teenager appeared to throw a cardboard banner at Aliir Aliir on Sunday
- The young fan was said to have been ejected from the stadium after the incident
- New South Wales Police are said to be investigating the incident
By AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: | Updated:
A teenaged Sydney fan has received a youth caution and banning notice after he allegedly threw an object at Port Adelaide player Aliir Aliir.
The Swans and Venues NSW continued to investigate the incident, which happened in the final quarter of Sunday's AFL match at the SCG.
Sydney officials spoke with Aliir immediately after the game, and it is understood there was no racial abuse involved.
A NSW Police statement has confirmed the boy is aged 16, not 13 as initially reported.
'Police were told a 16-year-old had allegedly thrown a paper banner at one of the players,' the statement added.
'The boy was taken to a room to speak with police before he was issued a banning notice, and a youth caution was organised.'
Port Adelaide star Aliir Aliir was involved in a tense confrontation with a footy fan at the SCG after the fan was seen throwing a cardboard clipper at the defender
The footy star was seen exchanging a few heated words with the spectator after the incident
TV footage showed the fan appearing to throw a cardboard clapper at Aliir after the Port defender, a former Sydney player, took a mark on the goal line in the last quarter.
Aliir then called out the fan, who was interviewed by police and stadium staff before leaving the ground.
A man called 'Jack', said to be the teenager's grandfather, rang Melbourne radio station 3AW after the game and said the boy had been the target of online abuse because of the incident.
He had also claimed that police had placed his grandson in a jail cell.
'Whatever he has done I don't condone, but what I'm getting really upset about is the garbage that's being put on social media,' the man said.
'It's not fair. He's a stupid kid who doesn't realise what he's done.'
But a police spokesperson told NewsWire: 'It doesn’t appear that he was kept in a cell,' before adding that the indicidual had been accompanied by a support person.
The Swans also issued a statement, reiterating 'our zero-tolerance stance on all forms of abuse'.
Port coach Ken Hinkley said after the match that Aliir was OK following the incident.
It comes after Power teammate Willie Rioli was abused online last week and briefly took leave from the club.
Tensions quickly settled but it is undertood that the footy fan was later removed by staff
Rioli also shut down his social media, in the wake of a strongly worded message he posted about his family history with Hawthorn.
It is understood that New South Wales Police are said to be investigating the unsavoury moment
'I think Aliir was OK with everything, so we'll work through it,' Hinkley said.
'Let's respect our footballers. That's the most important thing.
'We've had a little bit of stuff go on over the journey, last few weeks particularly, and I think let them (players) do what they do.
'You come to watch them. Just admire them for what they are, I would have thought, and enjoy the game.
'If you can't do that, please don't come.'
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