England's players wait on the pitch during a temporary interruption of the Euro 2020 Group A football qualification match between Bulgaria and England due to incidents with fans, at the Vasil Levski National Stadium in Sofia on October 14, 2019. (Photo by Stringer / AFP) (Photo by STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images)
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Should footballers walk off the pitch over racist abuse?
01:38 - Source: CNN
CNN  — 

The man responsible for racially abusing England cricketer Jofra Archer in New Zealand has been handed a two-year ban from attending international and domestic cricket matches in the country.

Archer said he heard the abuse as he walked back to the pavilion during the final day of the first Test between the sides at the Bay Oval cricket ground, a fixture that England went one to lose by an innings and 65 runs.

The Barbados-born fast bowler took to Twitter at the time to voice his thoughts on the incident which he described as “a bit disturbing” and subsequently filed a complaint with Tauranga police.

The police interviewed a 28-year man from Auckland who admitted the abuse.

Archer reportedly received a message on Instagram from the man which the English Cricket Board passed on to New Zealand Cricket (NZC), although it is unclear whether this message was an apology or further racial abuse.

The man was issued with a verbal warning from the police for using insulting language but no further action was taken.

NZC have since written to the man informing him of his two-year ban from attending fixtures, which will last until 2022.

This isn't the first time Archer has faced racist abuse while playing. In 2019, an England supporter left a match in Manchester, England, after he said he heard racist chanting directed toward Archer.
This isn't the first time Archer has faced racist abuse while playing. In 2019, an England supporter left a match in Manchester, England, after he said he heard racist chanting directed toward Archer.
Stu Forster/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images

Anthony Crummy, a spokesperson for NZC has warned that if the man breaches the ban he could face further police action.

He once again passed on apologies on behalf of the country: “We’d again like to extend our apologies to Jofra and the England team management for such an unsavory incident and reiterate once more that this type of behavior is completely unacceptable.”

England are currently in the middle of a four-match Test series in South Africa, but following the incident New Zealand captain Kane Williamson apologized directly to Archer for the incident, describing the abuse as “horrific”.

NZC have since taken additional action to ensure incidents of racist abuse do not happen again. Anti-racist messages will be signposted around cricket grounds, as well as on screens and delivered by on-ground announcers.

The governing body also encouraged spectators to use a text alert system to inform ground security of anti-social behavior, including racist abuse.