Harden will fight the Canberra Region Rugby League's proposed sanctions for spectators' alleged racial abuse of an Indigenous women's team at one of their home games at a disciplinary hearing.
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The time of the hearing was yet to be finalised, but The Canberra Times can reveal the Riverina club have decided against accepting the CRRL's proposed punishment.
It's hoped the hearing will be held this week.
Harden were given seven days - ending Monday - to respond to the league's decision after an investigation was launched into the alleged racial abuse of the Boomanulla Raiders at a Katrina Fanning Shield game against the WorHawks at Harden on July 31.
They've opted to go to a disciplinary hearing. Harden didn't return The Canberra Times' calls.
It's believed the Harden ground manager asked the spectators to be quiet after they allegedly yelled abuse, including comments like "dirty black dogs", but didn't ask them to leave the ground.
Boomanulla notified the league of the incident, with CRRL general manager Mark Vergano - while not able to speak about it specifically - condemning any racial vilification.
Vergano again declined to reveal what the proposed sanction was, preferring the official process to play out.
"It'll go to a disciplinary hearing and we'll go from there," he said.
"No [they didn't accept the sanction]. That's normal, that's part of the process so they've opted to take a hearing and it will just progress from there.
"I won't comment on that [the proposed sanction], as you appreciate with sensitivities of these things I'll just allow the process to take its course."
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Vergano said they were still trying to organise a time for the hearing that suited all parties.
He said the hearing would be held online - as has been the case since the coronavirus pandemic started.
"At the moment we're just trying to organise that to make sure all the people that we need to have available are available," Vergano said.
"But it will be shortly - quite possibly this week.
"It will be - as all the hearings have been in the NSW Rugby League side of things for the last two years - on Zoom."
David Polkinghorne
Covering the Raiders, Cavalry, cycling and racing, plus everything else that involves sport in the ACT, for The Canberra Times. Basically I love sport and watching it is a full-time job. Email: david.polkinghorne@canberratimes.com.au
Covering the Raiders, Cavalry, cycling and racing, plus everything else that involves sport in the ACT, for The Canberra Times. Basically I love sport and watching it is a full-time job. Email: david.polkinghorne@canberratimes.com.au
