City keeper in hot water for shocking racial slur
Dean Bouzanis could be looking at a stint on the sidelines after he was caught calling Besart Berisha a 'gypsy' in a heated Melbourne A-League derby.
Bouzanis was left fuming after Berisha threw the ball at him after Victory took the lead late in their 2-1 victory on Saturday night.
The City goalkeeper had a night to remember - saving a penalty from Berisha - before he was caught on camera repeatedly calling the Albanian a "f***ing gypsy".
The unsavoury incident is sure to be looked at by the A-League match review panel.
'Gypsy' is a derogatory term for the Romani people of Eastern Europe, many of whom live in Albania.
Fans were quick to condemn Bouzanis, with many calling for a lengthy ban:
Dean Bouzanis deserves a lengthy ban for calling Besart Berisha a gypsy, there is no place for racism in sport. Disgusting.#MelbDerby
— Tim Roberts (@TimRoberts95) February 4, 2017
Surely a minimum of a month for Bouzanis. Absolute disgrace. No place for that garbage.
— Ben Cuzzupe (@BenCuzzupe) February 4, 2017
People defending Bouzanis are idiots. Gypsy and gypo are slurs and if you've read a book, you'd know it's a racist remark to Albanians. 1/2
— jamie de la resist (@sfc_jamie) February 4, 2017
If the match review committee follows the FFA national disciplinary regulations, Bouzanis gets a 5-week rest for the gypsy jibe. #melbderby pic.twitter.com/ZoG9B30quw
— Roslyn Grundy (@onetui) February 4, 2017
Bouzanis should be wiped out for the season. #MelbDerby
— Frank Savaglio (@franksavaglio) February 4, 2017
How many weeks for Bouzanis for his racial vilification of Bes? #MelbDerby
— Ben Williams (@BenitoWill) February 4, 2017
England rugby international Joe Marler was banned for two games in 2016 for calling Wales prop Samson Lee "Gypsy boy" during a Six Nations match.