THE Port Adelaide Football Club has completed an investigation into an allegation that player Paddy Ryder was racially vilified by an Adelaide Crows supporter during Saturday night’s Showdown at Adelaide Oval.



After interviewing witnesses, including immediate family of a Port Adelaide Football Club official, the club has resolved that Ryder was subject to racial abuse.



Spectators in the immediate vicinity challenged the Crows supporter on his remarks and upon being challenged the offender ran away before stadium security could be alerted.



As a result, an official report with Adelaide Oval Stadium Management could not be lodged.



Port Adelaide is also continuing to investigate allegations that a Power supporter racially abused Adelaide Crows player Eddie Betts.



Port Adelaide can confirm the offender, who was evicted from the ground, is a club member and that his membership card has been confiscated and his membership suspended indefinitely.



The club is waiting on a full report from the stadium and SA Police before further action is taken.



Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas says the club is very disturbed by these incidents.



“As a club we are sickened by these reports that are at complete odds with the values of our club, represented in our spectator code of conduct,” said Mr Thomas.



“We simply will not tolerate this behaviour."



“As a club and an industry we need to continue to educate football supporters that this type of behaviour is not acceptable at our games or in society more broadly.



“We will work closely with our Member to educate him on what we expect from our community when it comes to racist behaviour.



“And I would call upon the Crows supporter to also come forward, and we would welcome him to also take part in our highly regarded cultural awareness sessions with our Aboriginal Program Director Paul Vandenbergh. Education and persistence is the key to better outcomes.”