'Racist slurs' spark kids footy brawl

The WA Football Commission is investigating whether racial vilification sparked an ugly junior football melee in Ferndale at the weekend.

Players from Thornlie and Lynwood/Ferndale junior football clubs clashed after the final siren at a Year 9 game on Saturday after alleged racial slurs made by a Thornlie player.

A WAFC spokesman said the commission was unaware of any official reports stemming from the match but those could be confirmed today. The spokesman said representatives from its Perth district, which oversees the two teams, were speaking to both sides over the racial abuse allegations.

Parent Wayne McNamara said he heard his 14-year-old son called a "black c…" and other Lynwood/Ferndale players called "Abos" by the same Thornlie player.

"The alleged comments were made within metres of our bench, it was within metres of two of our indigenous families and it was well and truly within earshot of our boys who were gathering together at the end of the game, as they always do," Mr McNamara said.

"We find (the alleged comments) totally unacceptable at any age, in any sort of sport, anywhere."

Mr McNamara said one of the players allegedly vilified retaliated and "jumper punched" the Thornlie player who allegedly made the remarks.

Players from both sides began pushing and shoving and punches were reportedly thrown.

"It got a little bit ugly," Mr McNamara said. "We had to physically restrain a couple of our guys."

A woman, who called herself Rebecca and said she was a relation of one of the Thornlie players but did not attend the game, told 6PR the alleged abuser was "physically attacked by five other boys".

She said he did not require hospital treatment but was "punched in the head and a few other places".

She denied any racist comment was made.

There was concern that tensions might reignite this weekend when, because of a scheduling quirk, the two teams again play at the same venue, though not against each other.

Both Thornlie and Lynwood/Ferndale's club presidents declined to comment.

Mr McNamara claimed a Tanzanian player in his son's side was racially vilified during a game earlier this year and expressed disappointment racism existed in junior football.

"We're eight games into the season and it's popped up twice," he said.