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Sledging just not cricket
Holly O'Connell & Matthew Burgess
14Aug07
MCKINNON Cricket Club could be permanently evicted from its home if it is found that any of its players posted ''blatant and vicious'' anti-Semitic comments on the internet.
Cricket Victoria is investigating at least six players over the posting of derogatory comments about Maccabi AJAX Cricket Club on Facebook internet pages.
Glen Eira Council is threatening to oust the club from McKinnon Reserve.
In a letter to the club, Glen Eira chief executive Andrew Newton said any future tenancies in the municipality could also be in doubt.
Comments posted on the website described Jewish players as ''human goats'' who once ''nearly choked . . . probably on the gas''.
A Beaumaris Cricket Club player allegedly also posted anti-Semitic views on the F.U. Ajax Cricket Club page, which was shut down last Tuesday.
Jewish Community Council of Victoria president Anton Block said ''this kind of sledging by mindless racists is unacceptable''.
B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission executive officer Manny Waks wrote to both clubs last week demanding an immediate investigation into the ''blatant and vicious'' comments.
McKinnon Cricket Club coach Chris Hall said a group of players, aged 25 to 30, had been suspended, but the remarks made were not linked to the club ''in any way''.
''It's just very immature and disappointing,'' he said. ''It shouldn't be said, it shouldn't be written and it shouldn't be going on.''
President Stuart Hamstead said the club was investigating the incident, with possible penalties including a life ban for those found to have taken part.
Cricket Victoria chief executive Tony Dodemaide said it had launched an investigation.
''If anyone genuinely believes in those opinions expressed . . . then they are simply not welcome in Victorian cricket,'' Mr Dodemaide said.
Maccabi AJAX Cricket Club president Jamie Hyams said the comments were ''the sort of thing you would see on a neo-Nazi website''.
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