About 150 community, political and business groups have issued a joint statement in support of AFL star Adam Goodes and calling for the end of racism in sport.
The organisations, which include schools, unions and several indigenous advocacy groups, say Goodes should be commended for displaying his culture on the football field and for taking a "courageous stance" against racism.
The Sydney Swans star, and former Australian of the Year, will miss this weekend's AFL game against Adelaide after being subjected to constant booing on the field.
The groups say the booing has crossed a line into racial abuse.
"To dismiss claims of racism as just banter is to use football as a shield for prejudice," the statement says.
"What message does it send to young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about their culture?"
The groups commend the AFL for backing Goodes and standing against racism and call on all sporting codes to follow its lead.
"Racism has no place in Australian sport or our society at large," the statement says.
SOME OF THE 150 GROUPS BEHIND THE JOINT STATEMENT
* Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda
* Australian Council of Trade Unions
* Bond University
* Cricket Australia
* Australian Human Rights Commission
* KPMG
* Qantas
* Football Federation Australia
* National Congress of Australia's First Peoples
* NRL
* Twitter Australia
* Office of the Lord Mayor, City of Sydney
* Australian Medical Association
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