Indigenous athletes, families condemn 'ugly racism' in sport

Indigenous sporting stars and their families have become the latest victims of racial abuse in Australia.

Ben Barba recently received racist comments from a teenager on Instagram.

The father of Brisbane Broncos centre, Justin Hodges, has become the latest victim of racial abuse on the sports field.

Roy Hodges has spoken out following Ben Barba’s battle with racism in sport.

Mr Hodges has described how he was coaching an under-13’s junior team on Brisbane’s north side when a parent from his own team called him a ‘black bastard'.

This follows shortly after the NRL indefinitely stood down an 18-year-old man for racially abusing Broncos star Ben Barba.

Mr Hodges grew up playing football in Cairns and moved to Brisbane in 1999 when his son was selected for the Brisbane Broncos.

Now he coaches juniors and serves as an Aboriginal Police Liaison Officer, helping north-side Aboriginal youth.

He says rugby league can help young athletes, but not if they're continually victims of abuse.

But Rugby League isn't the only sport in the racism spotlight.

Sydney-based Indigenous surfer Otis Carey has been described by a Gold Coast magazine as having an "apeish face".

A feature in the Surfing Life magazine said, "With his apeish face and cowering hair-curtains, I expect little more than Cro-Magnon grunts from his mouth. I am caught off guard by the clarity and eloquence of his speech.”

Late today, the publication issued an apology to Mr Carey and his family, saying it had never intended to offend them.

Surfing Life says it despises racism and that its own editor has Indigenous heritage.

The magazine has refused to offer any comment to NITV News.