RICHMOND has suspended a club member for two years after an AFL investigation revealed the member was responsible for racist taunts of West Coast's Liam Ryan on social media. 

An AFL investigation revealed the person who racially vilified Ryan via a comment on Instagram was a Richmond member and the club moved quickly to ban them until March 2021.

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"Racial vilification has no place in our game, and no place in our society, and the club will continue to take strong measures to ensure there is zero tolerance to this behaviour," the club said in a statement. 

The AFL's general manager inclusion and social policy, Tanya Hosch, said the League was determined to crack down on online racism. 

"The comments directed at Liam Ryan are only the latest in what appears to be an increasing number of racist posts appearing on the players, and broader, online platforms," Hosch said.

"The AFL took action regarding on-field racism over 20 years ago, we take action at our stadiums and grounds, but we are now facing vicious commentary appearing on players own accounts, and industry platforms."

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The Richmond member responsible for the abuse will be required to undergo an indigenous cultural awareness and education program before their membership is reinstated in March 2021. 

Hosch said that where the AFL could take action over such abuse, it would. 

"However, we also know that social media platforms invite commentary and feedback, and the anonymous nature of the commentary allows for the worst aspects of the community to get a voice.

"We have to continue to fight racism by shining a light where and when it happens, by standing with the person vilified and attacked, and by ongoing investment in anti-racism education, communications and campaigns.

"We also need to remember there are people without the profiles and status of some of the AFL's best players, who also experience racism every day and we know our players feel concern for this issue more generally, not just how it impacts them and their families," Ms Hosch said.