Houli, one of the AFL's few Muslim players, did not hear the alleged abuse but said after the game he had been subjected to other abuse through the match, which Collingwood won by one point. Bachar Houli, of the Tigers, and Jarryd Blair, of the Magpies, during Friday night's controversial game. Credit:Getty Images In a statement released on Saturday, Richmond said: "The AFL and MCC have acknowledged a racially motivated incident at the MCG last night. The Club also understands the nature of another incident of abuse is being investigated by the AFL. "Richmond Football Club embraces diversity. It is one of the club's core beliefs and we believe it should be nurtured and encouraged. "Bachar Houli is a fine young man who works tirelessly in the community to promote understanding and inclusion.

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



"Unfortunately, this is now a repeated pattern of behaviour that we find totally unacceptable. The club will always support Bachar and his family who add so much to the fabric of Richmond Football Club." Eddie McGuire has called for those behind the anti-Muslim banner to be banned for life. Credit:Mathew Lynn AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the banner, which said "Go Pies! Stop the mosques", was deeply offensive and that the AFL community would not tolerate the game being used to vilify sections of the Australian community.



"Our game has a history of egalitarianism and inclusion, and we must make sure that it continues to be a place where all Australians feel welcome," McLachlan said.



"The sentiment on that banner and the use of our game to push divisive and ignorant commentary will be rejected by our supporters and our clubs." McLachlan is due to address the media on Saturday afternoon. Taylor Adams, of the Magpies, handballs while being tackled by Dustin Martin, of the Tigers, during their match at the MCG on Friday. Credit:Getty Images

Houli has been previously targeted because of his faith. Last year, radio host John Burns apologised after it was alleged that he had described Houli as a "terrorist", although Burns said he did not recall whether he had used the slur. Collingwood has also been at the centre of pervious racism allegations. In 2013, a teenage girl became a figure of national controversy after labelling Indigenous Sydney champion Adam Goodes an "ape". The AFL is expected to act quickly after it was criticised for being too slow to act following further incidents of abuse against the now-retired Goodes. A small group of fans who were horrified by United Patriots Front's anti-Muslim banner were quick to confront the culprits on Friday night.

Keen Collingwood fan Anneke, 21, was watching the match from the Ponsford Stand with her sister when she saw the banner unfurled just after the siren sounded to signal halftime. Anneke said she immediately recognised it as the work of the far-right group, because as a member of the Socialist Alternative she had protested against them. She immediately stood up to confront them and tried to grab the banner out of their hands and was quickly joined by three young men who tried to help. Anneke said when two MCG security guards noticed the commotion they first asked her and the three other men to let go of the banner, before escorting the protesters out of the ground. "Quite a lot of people stood up and said thank-you for doing that, one guy gave me a beer," she said.

Anneke said she had been barracking for the Collingwood since her family moved to Victoria when she was in grade six and often went to games, so it was a shock to see the offensive banner. But she also regularly attended A-League matches and said she would not like the level of policing present at those events emulated in the AFL. On Friday night, Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said the people who unfurled the offensive anti-Muslim banner during the game should be banned from football for life. Those who displayed the banner were not necessarily Collingwood fans, although it did include the message "Go Pies", McGuire said. They were opportunists who had used the occasion to spread a "disgraceful" message, he said.

Far-right group the United Patriots Front identified themselves on the banner, which they rolled out during the second quarter in front of a crowd of 72,671 people. When fans pointed it out to MCG security guards they removed the culprits from the ground, but the group later posted a photo of the banner on their Facebook page. "I hope the police got their names and numbers, if they've got anything to do with our club they'll be banned," McGuire said. "Get these people and make an example of them, they should be banned for life."

McGuire said the derogatory behaviour was a societal problem. "You've got somebody running for the US election at the moment who's running on a ticket of vilification, it makes it hard," he said. "We have to knock this on the head as quickly as possible." AFL spokesman Patrick Keane later tweeted that league officials would discuss the banner with representatives of MCG security and Victoria Police. "The AFL condemns the behaviour in the strongest terms and such actions have no place in society, and not in our game," he wrote.

The Collingwood Football Club said in a statement the club was appalled by the banner and it would sever any ties with those involved if they were found to be members or linked to the club. The club is waiting on the outcome of further investigations into the matter by the AFL, MCG security and Victoria Police. A Victoria Police spokeswoman said police are working with the AFL and the MCG in relation to the matter.

AFL diversity manager Ali Fahour​ tweeted that there are "a minority of ignorant people still in society", in response to former St Kilda player Ahmed Saad, who said he was very disappointed to see the ignorance shown in the act. Hawthorn Football Club assistant coach Adem Yze, one of the first Muslims to play in the VFL/AFL, tweeted his disgust. "What an absolute disgrace!! Enough said!!" United Patriots Front leader Blair Cottrell recently attempted to launch a political arm to his group and in the past shared his pro-Nazi views on social media.

Mr Cottrell also uploaded a further video railing against the "feelings police" reacting to the banner. "Either the AFL and the media are just going to ignore us and won't make any mention of us to try and bury what happened, but I think it's much more likely that they're going to yell, scream and stamp their feet," he said. The incident was also condemned by Victoria's multicultural affairs minister, Robin Scott, and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.