Eddie Betts forgives Port Adelaide banana thrower and urges public to do likewise
Adelaide Crows footballer Eddie Betts has forgiven a woman who launched a racially-motivated insult at him at an AFL match on Saturday.
The Port Adelaide fan copped an indefinite ban from the Port Adelaide Football Club and a $543 fine from South Australia Police for throwing a banana at Betts at the end of the Showdown clash at Adelaide Oval.
The incident was filmed on several smart phone cameras and posted to social media by Port Adelaide's Aboriginal Programs Manager, Paul Vandenbergh.
"Disgusting ... I will be reporting you!!," Vandenbergh posted.
Vandenbergh's post was later removed from his profile.
The woman later apologised to Betts and the public, but not before she was thrust into centre of the AFL’s latest fan-driven racism scandal.
“I forgive her and I think everyone else should as well,” Betts told Adelaide radio station 5AA on Wednesday.
Earlier in the week Betts said it was disappointing to see the racially motivated act from a fan during his milestone 250th AFL game.
However, he said the incident could prove to be a useful educational tool to explain the consequences and effects of racism.
"It's sad that racism still exists in our game," Betts told the Crows website on Monday.
"Hopefully people can learn from it.
"I've obviously got to find a way to put it aside because we've got finals coming up (and) we've got West Coast on Friday night.
"That's probably one of the main things that I need to focus on now, it's going forward, putting it aside and focusing on footy."
The woman at the centre of the storm also broke her silence on Monday, apologising for her actions via a statement released by Port Adelaide.
"I apologise to Eddie Betts and the Adelaide Football Club as it was never my intention to cause harm or distress to your players or supporters," she said in a statement released via the Port Adelaide Football Club.
"Going to a game of football is meant to be a fun and enjoyable event for all and I apologise for ruining it for so many.
"I regret my momentary lapse of judgement and I did not attend the game with the predetermined attitude of bringing the game into disrepute or to offend anyone."
Police confirmed on Tuesday they had fined the 27 year old from Adelaide’s southern suburbs for disorderly behaviour at a licensed venues.
There have been a number of high-profile incidents across Europe where bananas were thrown at black soccer players as a form of racial abuse.
Betts booted five goals in the Showdown, his 250th AFL game, to help the Crows to a 15-point win.
