WARNING: This story contains disturbing details and offensive language
A minor league hockey player in Quebec voluntarily left the ice mid-game after fans hurled several racist taunts at him and harassed his family.
The incident occurred when Jonathan Diaby, a 24-year-old defenceman with the Jonquiere Marquis of the Ligue Nord-Americane de Hockey, received a penalty during the first period of his team鈥檚 game against the Saint-Jerome Petroliers du Nord in Saint-Jerome on Saturday.
While sitting in the penalty box, a fan climbed the boards and hurled racist insults at Diaby, which was caught on video. The fan also pulled out his phone to show Diaby pictures of a baboon. Security did not kick the fan out, but told him to move seats.
鈥淥ther people were saying: 鈥榊ou big n-----,鈥� and 鈥榊ou baboon,鈥� telling my dad to go back home,鈥� Diaby told CTV Montreal on Tuesday. 鈥淎t one point I was in the penalty box and I pulled my shirt over my face because I was almost crying.鈥�
Other fans harassed Diaby's family, crowding around them, pushing his father and pouring beer on his girlfriend.
鈥淲hen it comes down to my family in the stands and people I love, I can鈥檛 condone that,鈥� Diaby said.
Diaby received another penalty later in the game, but chose to leave the game instead of going to the penalty box for a second time. He and his family left before the game ended.
Diaby said this is hardly the first time he鈥檚 dealt with racism on the ice.
鈥淚鈥檓 a black person in a white man鈥檚 sport, so this happens every day,鈥� he said.
Jean-Francois Laplante, the league鈥檚 commissioner, apologized for the incident
鈥淩acist, sexist and homophobic comments are unacceptable and intolerable,鈥� he says in the clip.
Other players in the league have stepped forward in support of Diaby, who鈥檚 being described as a talented player who should be a draw for fans.
"It's 2019. All racism, homophobia, all cultural and social hatred, leave that at home,鈥� said William Lacasse, who plays for the Riviere-du-Loup 3L. 鈥淐ome out and encourage us to play.鈥�
Former NHLer Georges Laraque said he was shocked by the incident.
"There were 1,250 people in the stands and nobody did anything to stop that," he said. "If there鈥檚 minority kids watching that game and his dream is to play in the NHL, and they seeing this happening, what do you think they鈥檙e going to do? He's going to not want to play hockey, they're going to quit.鈥�
Hockey鈥檚 recent history of racism
Hockey has a long history with racism in both the professional and amateur ranks. Last May, a team of First Nations youth and their families were called a 鈥済ang of savages鈥� while at a tournament in Quebec City.
In 2014, then-Montreal Canadiens star P.K. Subban was subjected to racist slurs during a playoff game against the Boston Bruins in which he scored twice.
Last month, to a teenage hockey player who was dealing with racism in the Detroit-area.
