Suspension may encourage racism in suburban footy

A Greek Australian footballer was suspended from playing two games in suburban football after he retaliated to racial abuse, said the suspension may encourage ongoing racial abuse.
George Angelopoulos was banned for two weeks and must attend mediation after abusing opposition spectators to which he said he merely retaliated to ongoing harassment by the crowd.
"There is only a certain amount you can take before you have to react," he said. Angelopoulos claimed he snapped after repeated abuse about his heritage.
The 23-year-old Noble Park Bulls player said that his suspension sets a bad example in grassroots football.
"If people know that you're going to get suspended if you retaliate to that sort of stuff, that will probably encourage the racism even more."
The incident of racial abuse, which occurred when he played against Balwyn Tigers, was not reported.
Eastern Football League chief executive Rob Sharpe said he and other officials saw the incident at Balwyn last weekend.
"George's behaviour wasn't good," Mr Sharpe said, who added that Angelopoulos was involved in three separate incidents during the match. He also said that he heard nothing untoward being said by the spectators.
"If George has an issue in relation to a racial complaint, we have some very solid processes to manage that," he said. "It is not a complaint he has related and provided to us."
In Seymour, coach Bernie Haberman has called for more education to combat race problems at grassroots level.
The team's Lebanese star forward, Saad Saad, has received a barrage of religious and ethnic taunts in the Goulburn Valley League since 2005.
Chalpat Sonti, who witnessed one of the verbal attacks, said the most disgusting part was the public's failure to stand up against it.
Victorian Country League chief executive Steven Reaper said racism was a social worry and Saad's abuse was an isolated incident. Programs would be expanded to make players aware of correct conduct.
"When you look at country footy, in terms of matches, we play an entire AFL season across a weekend, so we don't think racism is embedded in our leagues," he said.