CRICKET Australia have referred an alleged racist incident emerging from Saturday night’s Big Bash League Melbourne derby to Victoria Police.

Footage was broadcast from Saturday night’s clash at the MCG which showed a fan appearing to perform a racist salute.

Cricket Australia and the Melbourne Cricket Club are assisting with police after a man in the crowd wearing a Melbourne Renegades shirt was accused of making a racist salute while appearing to mouth the words ‘white power’.

The incident was shown on the Channel 10 coverage and occurred after Renegades’ Cameron White hit James Faulkner for four.

While it may have been an attempted play on batsman White’s name the incident prompted a vicious social media reaction, with some users calling for officials to take action.

Cricket Australia has issued the man with an officiall warning but the police can still take the matter further if they see fit.

“We take a zero tolerance approach to racial vilification towards any player, official or fan at any of our matches,” a CA spokesman told FoxSports.com.au.

“The matter at the MCG last night has been referred to the Victoria Police for further investigation.

“Cricket Australia is in close liaison with Victoria Police to identify the man.”

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A spokesman for the MCC said it too would assist with any investigation.

“The MCC take allegations of anti-social behaviour, in particular racial vilification, very seriously,” the statement read.

“Whilst our security team did not receive a formal complaint about the incident during the match, we have referred the matter to Victoria Police and we will provide them with any relevant security footage which may aid their investigation into this matter.”

Cricket Australia has long been a champion of equality, but that has not eliminated the occurrence of racial incidents in the game.

Current coach Darren Lehmann was suspended for five one-day internationals in 2003 after audibly uttering ‘black c***’ after he was dismissed against Sri Lanka at the Gabba.

Three years later, former Aussie batsman Dean Jones was sacked from his job as television commentator after referring to South African batsman Hashim Amla as a “terrorist.”

But incidents involving outwardly racist crowd behaviour — at least publicly — have been rare.

Earlier this summer English all-rounder Moeen Ali claimed he had been racially sledged during the second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval.

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Ali didn’t report the incident to the match referee or umpires, instead telling reporters when he arrived in Perth for the third Test.

“Somebody (in the crowd) asked me what time my kebab shop opened,” Ali said, before conceding he “wasn’t fazed” by it.

Last summer, Proteas batsman Amla reported an offensive message that was displayed on the fence during the Hobart Test.

CA and the police identified the man and he was formally charged and issued a three-year ban from attending any cricket match in Australia.

CA has a zero-tolerance policy to any form of anti-social behaviour, having gone to great lengths to crack down on racial vilification.

“Our message to any fan attending a match is that if you display anti-social behaviour you will be removed and risk being banned from any cricket match across Australia, along with police action,” a CA spokesman said in relation to the Amla incident.

“We encourage anybody who may witness this at one of our matches to report the matter to security or a member of staff immediately.”

Australia’s cricketers also deliver messages on the big screen to crowd members throughout every day of the Test summer, reminding fans to treat others with respect.