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AAP
AAP
Sport
Rob Forsaith

Blues CEO calls out 'gutless' racist abuse

Carlton have slammed the racist abuse meted out to their star Indigenous player Zac Williams. (AAP)

Carlton chief executive Cain Liddle says it's a disgrace Indigenous star Zac Williams has been subjected to "gutless" and "vile" racist abuse.

Williams will miss the Blues' clash with Fremantle because of a one-game suspension, which resulted from an incident on Sunday when he slammed Ben Keays' head to the turf.

Carlton veteran Eddie Betts, who has previously been racially abused, then revealed his teammate had been attacked by a racist troll on social media.

The club reported the message to the AFL's integrity unit.

"It is a disgrace that people believe they can just say whatever they want to a person and think no action will be taken" Liddle said.

"We will never stop calling out this sort of racist behaviour because nobody, no matter who you are, should have such vile words directed towards them.

"Zac has the entire Carlton family standing with him.

"He knows he has our full support but at the same time he is hurting because he has had to put up with this crap throughout his life.

"That simply is not good enough."

Williams' teammates, players at rival clubs and AFLPA boss Paul Marsh have taken to social media to voice their support for the 26-year-old.

Liddle noted it was important to call out "gutless racist behaviour".

"We hope that by doing so, it draws attention to the importance of not standing for this," he said.

"There simply just isn't room for racism, or vilification of any kind, in our game and in society.

"We will do whatever we can to continue to remind people that there is absolutely zero tolerance for vilification of any kind. It has to stop."

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