The Australian Human Rights Commission have created a new set of guidelines to help Australian sports organisations act effectively and consistently in responding to incidents of spectator racism, as well as preventing racism from occurring at sporting events.

20 major sporting organisations have joined as signatories, including the AFL, Cricket Australia, NRL, Tennis Australia, and some of the nation’s largest stadiums.

The Spectator Racism Guidelines culminate from consultations between the Australian Human Rights Commission and various professional sporting codes, clubs, players, venue operators, and anti-racism experts.

The numerous incidents of spectator racism over the past year led the Commission to spearhead the development of these guidelines.

Australian Human Rights Commission race discrimination commissioner, Chin Tan, said: “Sport holds a unique place in Australian society – it encapsulates our values of equality and fairness and helps us connect to each other – but unfortunately, racism in sport remains an ongoing issue.”

“When racist incidents happen, they can have a long-lasting impact on those affected, and damaging social consequences.

There is no place for racism anywhere, and that includes sport.”

“We need consistent and strong responses to spectator racism across the sporting codes to send a united message that racism will not be tolerated, and that there will be serious consequences when it occurs,” Tan said.

The guidelines allow for a framework of action that can be taken across sporting codes, including preventative measures and support for impacted parties from spectator racism, making it clear that racism will not be tolerated.

The Commission said it intends for the guidelines to be a first stage in partnership between signatory codes, clubs, and venues to strengthen their anti-racism work and policies.

A wider National Anti-Racism Framework is being worked on by the Commission to address racism in all aspects of society which is due to be released in 2022.

“We look forward to working with these signatories further to make their sporting codes, clubs and venues as inclusive as possible,” Tan said.