On Friday, law enforcement in Australia announced the arrest and charging of a 37-year-old man from Huntingdale for allegedly sending racially abusive messages to a player in the National Basketball League (NBL) via social media. The suspect, who is not reportedly connected to any fans who were expelled during a match on November 17, 2024, at Melbourne’s John Cain Arena, faces charges for using a telecommunications service to menace, harass, and/or offend. He has been released on bail and is set to appear at a Melbourne court on August 15.
The dispute followed a game between Melbourne United and the Adelaide 36ers, where fans were removed after clashes with players from Adelaide. Though the police and the club have not named the player, Australian media identify the alleged victim as former National Basketball Association (NBA) star Montrezl Harrell. Harrell, who has played for several NBA teams before joining Adelaide for the 2024-2025 season, is also contracted to Puerto Rican side Gigantes de Carolina.
Basketball Australia (BA) hailed the arrest as a “landmark moment” in the fight against social media abuse, marking the first-ever successful prosecution of an individual for racially abusing an Australian basketball athlete online. BA emphasized that athletes have the right to compete in a safe, abuse-free environment and commended the strong stance taken by Victoria Police and Basketball Australia’s Integrity Unit in pursuing the matter.
The Adelaide 36ers indicated they would not comment on the incident, stating it was now a criminal matter, but confirmed the player was aware of the arrest and was content with how the matter had been managed. The club also commended the efforts of Victoria Police and Basketball Australia’s Integrity Unit, reaffirming its commitment to fostering an inclusive, welcoming, and safe environment for players, staff, and fans.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/australia-man-arrested-for-racist-abuse-of-basketball-star/a-73235446?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
