When does banter become abuse?

Photo: Photosport

Is it ever okay to boo at a sports game?

It’s a question that’s currently being asked by the AFL community after Sydney Swans star player Lance “Buddy” Franklin, who’s also indigenous, was booed by Collingwood fans during their match on Sunday.

But is this also an issue in Aotearoa?

Quade Cooper was famously booed by the New Zealand public for years.

The Australian cricketers are always greeted by jeering fans when visiting our shores.

And it’s not just the Aussies that cop it, former Hurricane Beauden Barrett received a chorus of boos every time he touched the ball during his first appearance for the Blues in Wellington.

Sideline abuse occurs throughout professional sport and has even infested college sport.

Blues lock Sam Darry grew up in Christchurch, a city notorious for passionate supporters.

“When I was at school there was some negative abuse but for me it was just kind of part of it, it created that atmosphere, that environment that made it that much better if you were to come out on the right side of the result, you know, kind of almost sticking it to them a wee bit.”

Darry says he’s never been subject to any vulgar abuse from the crowd but he does know what’s it’s like to play in a grudge match.

“Some people may not like it but for me when I’m out on the field I just kind of end up hearing more noise than anything so I’m not too aware of what they are saying but I kind of liked like the atmosphere that it builds at times.”

The abuse can often have racial overtones.

Auckland footballer Red Tsonga moved to New Zealand from the Congo in 2006 and brought his love of football with him.

After being welcomed by teammates and supporters throughout his youth, he would experience racial abuse as a senior player.

“The worst thing I was called was a black piece of s****. It happened at the football festival of culture where people are celebrating different cultures and new Zealand’s diversity.”

Tsonga says people like that turn the beautiful game ugly.

“I couldn’t believe it because I was playing with the youth team, I was one of the elders.”

Tsonga says the racial abuse is often overt and out in the open.

“It should never happen in New Zealand, we are welcoming, we are diverse and inclusive.”

The Phoenix fans are among the loudest in the country.
Photo: Photosport Ltd 2020

Another group renowned for their sideline rowdiness is the Wellington Phoenix football supporters group Yellow Fever.

Member Dale Warburton says it’s a very fine line between banter and abuse.

“Sometimes sections of the crowds have probably gone past that line. I’m sure we probably have in the last 15 or 16 years, but I guess we haven’t seen anything to the same extent that we’ve seen in other instances.”

He says they do their best to maintain the group’s integrity.

“We do try to set a standard. It’s impossible to enforce that completely. But I think there is an approach where people are called out for stuff that we don’t think is appropriate in the circumstances.”

New Zealand shotputter Tom Walsh has experienced performing in an empty arena and believes fans enhance the live sporting experience.

“I think it’s a tricky one because we play sport and we’re very passionate about sport but so are the fans and I’d sure as hell have them there all the time rather than no one. I’ve competed in front of stadiums with no crowds and it’s not that fun.”

Walsh says he has fortunately never been on the receiving end of abuse.

“People just get really passionate about wanting their team or their players to do well and I guess that’s just part and parcel of what we do as sportspeople.”

The 31-year-old says it is just another aspect of being a professional sportsman.

“We don’t all want to be role models but that’s the gig. So, just like the booing you gotta take the good with the bad. It’s like when you get bad media articles written about you and good ones.”