AFL boss Gillon McLachlan says he will not tolerate the game "being used to vilify" sections of the community after an anti-Muslim banner was unfurled during Friday night's match between Richmond and Collingwood.

Key points: McLachlan labels banner "deeply offensive"

McLachlan labels banner "deeply offensive" Those involved may face attendance bans

Those involved may face attendance bans Alleged abuse against Bachar Houli not racial, AFL finds

McLachlan said the league would work with police and the Melbourne Cricket Club to indentify those behind the sign, which said "Go Pies! Stop the mosques".

He said if those involved with the banner were club members they would be banned from attending games.

The banner, emblazoned with the crest of nationalist group the United Patriots Front, was displayed beneath one of the MCG scoreboards during the Magpies' one-point win.

The group later posted a video of the banner being unveiled on its Facebook page.

Victoria Police said it "will assess the circumstances and review all evidence to determine if an offence has been committed".

The banner was removed by ground staff soon after it was revealed after complaints from members of the crowd, the AFL said.

McLachlan said action would be taken against those responsible for the "deeply offensive" banner, but it could be hard to prosecute them.

"Our guys are talking with Victoria Police to see how they may prosecute, I know there are challenges with that, but we will continue to work with them because it's been clearly rejected by those at the ground," he said.

"It was pulled down within minutes. It's hard to stop. It's difficult."

Players, clubs slam 'racist' banner

A number of players, including West Coast's Nic Naitanui, North Melbourne's Majak Daw and former Saint Ahmed Saad, took to Twitter to condemned the banner.

"'Racism. It stops with me'. After last night's events now is an important time to keep reinforcing this message," Daw said.

"Racism is a refuge for the ignorant and it disappoints me they use the footy platform to vent their fears," Naitanui tweeted.

Collingwood released a statement after the game saying it was "appalled" by the banner and that there was "no place at Collingwood, or in our game, for such behaviour".

"It is yet to be established whether the people responsible for the banner have any connection to Collingwood," the statement read.

"Regardless, these people do not speak for Collingwood and are condemned by Collingwood.

"If it established that they have a formal connection to the club, this connection will be severed."

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said those responsible wanted "to hijack what's good in life" and should be banned from the sport.

"Get rid of these idiots. Get them out of our grounds. Get them out of our sport," he said.

Alleged abuse against Houli investigated

The AFL said an investigation into alleged abuse aimed towards Richmond's Bachar Houli found the defender had been taunted by a crowd member but it was not racially or religiously motivated.

Bachar Houli was allegedly abused by a crowd member on Friday night. ( Getty Images: Chris Hyde - File photo )



It was initially believed Houli, a devout Muslim and an AFL multicultural ambassador, had been racially abused, but that was dismissed after speaking to Houli and umpires nearby when the abuse occurred.

Houli was allegedly called a "terrorist" by a Melbourne media personality during a match at the MCG in April last year.

"Bachar Houli is a fine young man who works tirelessly in the community to promote understanding and inclusion," Richmond said in a statement.

"Bachar, and the broader Muslim community, deserve better than having to endure the small-minded people that seek to promote division and hatred."