Latest news with #Adelaide36ers
DW
11-07-2025
- Sport
- DW
Australia: Man arrested for racist abuse of basketball star – DW – 07/11/2025
The arrest for alleged racial abuse via social media of a basketball player is the first of its kind in Australia. Police in Australia said Friday that a man has been arrested and charged for racially abusing a professional National Basketball League (NBL) player online. In a statement, police in the state of Victoria said detectives had "arrested and charged a 37-year-old Huntingdale man who allegedly sent racist messages to the player's personal social media account." The man has been charged with using "a carriage service" — meaning a phone, email or social media — "to menace, harass and/or offend," police said. He has been released on bail and is due to appear at a Melbourne court on August 15. The messages in question were sent after a match at Melbourne's John Cain Arena between Melbourne United and the Adelaide 36ers on November 17, 2024, which saw fans thrown out following clashes with players from Adelaide. "The man charged is not connected to any fans ejected during this game," police said. Although neither police nor the club have identified the player in question, Australian media have widely reported the alleged victim as former National Basketball Association (NBA) star, American Montrezl Harrell. The 31-year-old was drafted in 2015 by the Houston Rockets, and made his name with the Los Angeles Clippers. He also played for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Washington Wizards, the Charlotte Hornets and the Philadelphia 76ers before joining Adelaide for the 2024-2025 season. In a statement, Basketball Australia (BA) said the arrest was made after it had "collaborated with Victoria Police to secure the first-ever successful arrest of a person in Australian basketball on charges of racially abusing an athlete via social media," calling the arrest "a landmark moment." "Every athlete deserves to compete in a safe environment, free from abuse. There are laws in place to govern appropriate behaviour towards athletes, and it's important the public understands that," BA said. It added that "taking a stand" against hateful messages "sends a clear message of zero tolerance and helps drive the cultural change needed to create a safe sport and respectful environment for everyone." The Adelaide 36ers said it would not comment on the incident as it was now a criminal matter. But the club did say the player who had allegedly received the racist messages "is aware of the arrest and is comfortable with the way the matter has been handled." The club also praised Victoria Police and Basketball Australia's Integrity Unit "for their strong stance in pursuing this matter." "The club will continue to call out racism and remains committed to ensuring it provides and is part of an inclusive, welcoming and safe environment for players, staff and fans," the team concluded.
Japan Today
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Japan Today
Australian basketball first as man charged over online racist abuse
A man has been arrested over alleged online abuse of basketball player Montrezl Harrell, who was named by Australian media basketball A man has been charged with racially abusing a high-profile basketball player via social media in what officials said Friday was a first for the sport in Australia. Police arrested the 37-year-old earlier this month after he allegedly sent a racist message to the National Basketball League player's social media account. Basketball Australia did not identify the player targeted, but News Corp newspapers and national broadcaster ABC said it was former NBA star Montrezl Harrell, who is currently contracted to the Adelaide 36ers. The American power forward, who was drafted by the Houston Rockets, made his name with the Los Angeles Clippers. Basketball Australia said it was the first-ever successful arrest for such an offense and "a landmark moment". "There are laws in place to govern appropriate behavior towards athletes, and it's important the public understands that," said a spokesman for BA's Integrity Unit. "Taking a stand sends a clear message of zero tolerance and helps drive the cultural change needed to create a safe sport and respectful environment for everyone." The man was charged with using a carriage service -- such as a phone, email or social media -- to menace, harass and/or offend. He was bailed to appear before a Melbourne court on August 15. The 36ers said in a statement that the player who received the message "is aware of the arrest and is comfortable with the way the matter has been handled". "The Adelaide 36ers commend Victoria Police and Basketball Australia's Integrity Unit for their strong stance in pursuing this matter," it added. © 2025 AFP
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Australian basketball first as man charged over online racist abuse
A man has been charged with racially abusing a high-profile basketball player via social media in what officials said Friday was a first for the sport in Australia. Police arrested the 37-year-old earlier this month after he allegedly sent a racist message to the National Basketball League player's social media account. Basketball Australia did not identify the player targeted, but News Corp newspapers and national broadcaster ABC said it was former NBA star Montrezl Harrell, who is currently contracted to the Adelaide 36ers. The American power forward, who was drafted by the Houston Rockets, made his name with the Los Angeles Clippers. Basketball Australia said it was the first-ever successful arrest for such an offence and "a landmark moment". "There are laws in place to govern appropriate behaviour towards athletes, and it's important the public understands that," said a spokesman for BA's Integrity Unit. "Taking a stand sends a clear message of zero tolerance and helps drive the cultural change needed to create a safe sport and respectful environment for everyone." The man was charged with using a carriage service -- such as a phone, email or social media -- to menace, harass and/or offend. He was bailed to appear before a Melbourne court on August 15. The 36ers said in a statement that the player who received the message "is aware of the arrest and is comfortable with the way the matter has been handled". "The Adelaide 36ers commend Victoria Police and Basketball Australia's Integrity Unit for their strong stance in pursuing this matter," it added. mp/djw/rsc
France 24
11-07-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Australian basketball first as man charged over online racist abuse
Police arrested the 37-year-old earlier this month after he allegedly sent a racist message to the National Basketball League player's social media account. Basketball Australia did not identify the player targeted, but News Corp newspapers and national broadcaster ABC said it was former NBA star Montrezl Harrell, who is currently contracted to the Adelaide 36ers. The American power forward, who was drafted by the Houston Rockets, made his name with the Los Angeles Clippers. Basketball Australia said it was the first-ever successful arrest for such an offence and "a landmark moment". "There are laws in place to govern appropriate behaviour towards athletes, and it's important the public understands that," said a spokesman for BA's Integrity Unit. "Taking a stand sends a clear message of zero tolerance and helps drive the cultural change needed to create a safe sport and respectful environment for everyone." The man was charged with using a carriage service -- such as a phone, email or social media -- to menace, harass and/or offend. He was bailed to appear before a Melbourne court on August 15. The 36ers said in a statement that the player who received the message "is aware of the arrest and is comfortable with the way the matter has been handled".
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Australian basketball first as man charged over online racist abuse
A man has been arrested over alleged online abuse of basketball player Montrezl Harrell, who was named by Australian media (Kevin C. Cox) A man has been charged with racially abusing a high-profile basketball player via social media in what officials said Friday was a first for the sport in Australia. Police arrested the 37-year-old earlier this month after he allegedly sent a racist message to the National Basketball League player's social media account. Advertisement Basketball Australia did not identify the player targeted, but News Corp newspapers and national broadcaster ABC said it was former NBA star Montrezl Harrell, who is currently contracted to the Adelaide 36ers. The American power forward, who was drafted by the Houston Rockets, made his name with the Los Angeles Clippers. Basketball Australia said it was the first-ever successful arrest for such an offence and "a landmark moment". "There are laws in place to govern appropriate behaviour towards athletes, and it's important the public understands that," said a spokesman for BA's Integrity Unit. Advertisement "Taking a stand sends a clear message of zero tolerance and helps drive the cultural change needed to create a safe sport and respectful environment for everyone." The man was charged with using a carriage service -- such as a phone, email or social media -- to menace, harass and/or offend. He was bailed to appear before a Melbourne court on August 15. The 36ers said in a statement that the player who received the message "is aware of the arrest and is comfortable with the way the matter has been handled". "The Adelaide 36ers commend Victoria Police and Basketball Australia's Integrity Unit for their strong stance in pursuing this matter," it added. mp/djw/rsc
