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Time of India
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Historic Arrest in Australia After Racial Abuse of NBL Star Montrezl Harrell Marks Major Step Toward Combating Online Hate in Sports
Montrezl Harrell (Image via Getty) In a landmark moment for Australian sport and social accountability, a Victorian man has been arrested and charged following a racially abusive social media attack directed at Montrezl Harrell , a prominent player for the Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League (NBL). The incident has sparked widespread discussion about online abuse, athlete safety, and the power of law enforcement to hold digital offenders accountable. The Incident: Social Media Turns Sour The controversy began in November 2024, shortly after a heated on-court incident involving Harrell at John Cain Arena. Following the game, Montrezl Harrell received a barrage of racist abuse from a burner Instagram account. The messages included the use of the 'N' word and the phrase "get out of my country," among other offensive remarks. The abuse was promptly reported to Basketball Australia's Integrity Unit, setting the wheels of justice in motion. The Investigation and Arrest After a thorough investigation, Victoria Police, in collaboration with Basketball Australia's Integrity Unit, identified and arrested a 37-year-old man from Huntingdale, Victoria. The man was charged with "using a carriage service to menace, harass and/or offend," a serious offense under Australian law that can carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The accused has been bailed and is scheduled to appear at Moorabbin Magistrates' Court on August 15, 2025. This arrest marks the first successful prosecution in Australian basketball for racially abusing an athlete via social media—a significant milestone in the fight against online hate. Reactions: Zero Tolerance and Cultural Change The NBL and Basketball Australia have both strongly condemned the abuse and praised the swift action taken by authorities. Lauren Blecher, NBL's chief corporate and governance officer, stated: "The NBL stands united with Basketball Australia in taking a firm stance against any form of online abuse or vilification. The action by Victoria Police sends a clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated. We are incredibly proud of the collaborative efforts that led to this outcome. " A spokesperson for Basketball Australia's Integrity Unit emphasized the importance of athlete safety and the need for cultural change: "Every athlete deserves to compete in a safe environment, free from abuse. There are laws in place to govern appropriate behaviour towards athletes, and it's important the public understands that. Taking a stand sends a clear message of zero tolerance and helps drive the cultural change needed to create a safe sport and respectful environment for everyone. " The Broader Issue: Social Media Abuse in Sports This case is not an isolated incident. Social media abuse targeting athletes—especially those from minority backgrounds—has been a recurring issue in Australia and worldwide. Just last year, Tasmania JackJumpers coach Scott Roth revealed that his team's players and their families had been "attacked brutally through social media to the point where it's ugly," highlighting the urgent need for better protections and accountability. Why This Matters: Setting a Precedent This arrest sends a powerful message: anonymity online does not equate to immunity from the law. For too long, trolls and abusers have hidden behind fake accounts, believing themselves untouchable. This case demonstrates that with the right collaboration between sports organizations and law enforcement, perpetrators can and will be brought to justice. Entertaining Take: The Courtroom, Not the Court While Montrezl Harrell is known for his fierce presence on the basketball court, it's the courtroom where the real drama will unfold next. The accused, who once thought he could hide behind a burner account, now faces the full weight of the law—a reminder that the digital world is very much part of the real one. Also read: LeBron James' Final Act? Los Angeles Lakers Set the Stage for a Legendary Hollywood Farewell in 2026 The arrest of the Australian man for racially abusing Montrezl Harrell is a watershed moment for Australian sport and digital accountability. It is a testament to the courage of athletes who speak out, the diligence of integrity units, and the evolving power of law enforcement in the digital age. As the case heads to court, it stands as a warning to would-be trolls: the game has changed, and the referees are watching—on and off the court. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
RNZ News
11-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Australian NBL supports landmark arrest for racist message
Montrezl Harrell of the 36ers challenged by Jonah Bolden of the Breakers Photo: Matt Turner The NBL has commended authorities for the "swift and decisive" action in securing the first successful arrest in Australian basketball on charges of racially abusing an athlete via social media. On 2 July Victoria Police arrested and charged a 37-year-old man allegedly responsible for a racist message sent to Adelaide 36ers Montrezl Harrell's social media account in November 2024. Basketball Australia's Integrity Unit worked with police to identify the alleged culprit from Huntingdale. A spokesperson for the Integrity Unit said every athlete "deserves to compete in a safe environment, free from abuse". "There are laws in place to govern appropriate behaviour towards athletes, and it's important the public understands that. "The individuals targeted by hateful messages are human, and Basketball Australia commends the courage it takes to call out this behaviour. "Taking a stand sends a clear message of zero tolerance and helps drive the cultural change needed to create a safe sport and respectful environment for everyone." NBL chief corporate and governance officer Lauren Blecher said the "NBL stands united with Basketball Australia in taking a firm stance against any form of online abuse or vilification. "The action by Victoria Police sends a clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated. We are incredibly proud of the collaborative efforts that led to this outcome." The man has been charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass and/or offend. He has been bailed to appear at Moorabbin Magistrates' Court on 15 August. Last year the Breakers backed calls for better protection of players and their families from social media abuse. In early November Tasmania JackJumpers coach Scott Roth revealed for weeks his team's players and their families had been "attacked brutally through social media to the point where it's ugly". Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Australia police arrest man over online racial abuse of player
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Victoria Police have arrested a man for alleged racial abuse of a National Basketball League (NBL) player via social media in a first for the sport in Australia, the national governing body said on Friday. Basketball Australia said that on July 2 police arrested and charged a 37-year-old Huntingdale man who allegedly sent the message to the player's social media account. It did not reveal the name of the athlete but the Adelaide 36ers said in a statement it was one of their players who received the message and that he was aware of the arrest. Victoria Police said the message was allegedly sent following a game at Melbourne's John Cain Arena on November 17, with Basketball Australia's integrity unit referring the matter to them for further investigation. "There are laws in place to govern appropriate behaviour towards athletes, and it's important the public understands that," a spokesperson for the integrity unit said. "The individuals targeted by hateful messages are human, and Basketball Australia commends the courage it takes to call out this behaviour." The man has been bailed to appear at Melbourne's Moorabbin Magistrates' Court on August 15. REUTERS Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore steps up nuclear viability, safety research with new institute and $66m in additional funds Singapore NDP 2025: Leopard tank transmission fault identified, vehicle to resume role in mobile column World Trump nominates 'alpha male' influencer to be ambassador to Malaysia Business CEO pay: At Singapore's top companies, whose pay went up and who saw a drop? Opinion Whisper it softly, there's a new Japan rising Business Popiah king Sam Goi makes $123.5 million offer to buy rest of PSC Singapore Youth who performed lewd act on cat ordered to undergo probation Life Singer Jacky Cheung adds 3 more encore concerts in Singapore, bringing total to 6 shows
NZ Herald
11-07-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Battle to stop social media abuse of athletes steps up with police charging man for targeting star via Instagram
In an Australian basketball first, a man has been charged with racially abusing former NBA star Montrezl Harrell using an Instagram burner account. Basketball Australia collaborated with Victoria Police to secure the first-ever arrest after an investigation was launched in November 2024 following Harrell's involvement in an altercation with fans
DW
11-07-2025
- Sport
- DW
Australia: Man arrested for racist abuse of basketball star – DW – 07/11/2025
The arrest for alleged racial abuse via social media of a basketball player is the first of its kind in Australia. Police in Australia said Friday that a man has been arrested and charged for racially abusing a professional National Basketball League (NBL) player online. In a statement, police in the state of Victoria said detectives had "arrested and charged a 37-year-old Huntingdale man who allegedly sent racist messages to the player's personal social media account." The man has been charged with using "a carriage service" — meaning a phone, email or social media — "to menace, harass and/or offend," police said. He has been released on bail and is due to appear at a Melbourne court on August 15. The messages in question were sent after a match at Melbourne's John Cain Arena between Melbourne United and the Adelaide 36ers on November 17, 2024, which saw fans thrown out following clashes with players from Adelaide. "The man charged is not connected to any fans ejected during this game," police said. Although neither police nor the club have identified the player in question, Australian media have widely reported the alleged victim as former National Basketball Association (NBA) star, American Montrezl Harrell. The 31-year-old was drafted in 2015 by the Houston Rockets, and made his name with the Los Angeles Clippers. He also played for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Washington Wizards, the Charlotte Hornets and the Philadelphia 76ers before joining Adelaide for the 2024-2025 season. In a statement, Basketball Australia (BA) said the arrest was made after it had "collaborated with Victoria Police to secure the first-ever successful arrest of a person in Australian basketball on charges of racially abusing an athlete via social media," calling the arrest "a landmark moment." "Every athlete deserves to compete in a safe environment, free from abuse. There are laws in place to govern appropriate behaviour towards athletes, and it's important the public understands that," BA said. It added that "taking a stand" against hateful messages "sends a clear message of zero tolerance and helps drive the cultural change needed to create a safe sport and respectful environment for everyone." The Adelaide 36ers said it would not comment on the incident as it was now a criminal matter. But the club did say the player who had allegedly received the racist messages "is aware of the arrest and is comfortable with the way the matter has been handled." The club also praised Victoria Police and Basketball Australia's Integrity Unit "for their strong stance in pursuing this matter." "The club will continue to call out racism and remains committed to ensuring it provides and is part of an inclusive, welcoming and safe environment for players, staff and fans," the team concluded.
