NZ Cricket tightens security after woman abused at match

  • 28/01/2018
Amy Ross was sitting on a grassy bank with her girlfriend at Wellington's Basin Reserve when men began hurling homophobic slurs.
Amy Ross was sitting on a grassy bank with her girlfriend at Wellington's Basin Reserve when men began hurling homophobic slurs. Photo credit: Getty

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) says it will tighten security after men groped and hurled homophobic slurs at a female spectator.

Amy Ross was sitting on a grassy bank with her girlfriend at Wellington's Basin Reserve watching the fifth one-day international match between the Black Caps and Pakistan on January 19.

The 100-strong crowd of mostly drunk men around the couple began hurling homophobic slurs, calling Ms Ross a "stupid dyke".

She told the Sunday Star-Times the Red Badge Security guards stood back and did nothing while the men yelled at her, hassled the Pakistani cricketers, threw a ball at her ribs, and groped her.

"It's awful because you don't want to cry because it makes you feel weak. And you definitely don't want them to see it because it's like letting them win," she told the paper.

"You feel like an animal that's being preyed upon, but you don't want to run because you feel like you'll be chased."

NZC public affairs manager Richard Boock told the Star-Times between 10 and 20 patrons were kicked out of the venue for "offensive language or behaviour, intoxication, and bringing contraband into the venue".

Mr Boock offered Ms Ross an apology and said a text assistance line will be rolled out throughout all cricket venues.

"NZC does not think it's right to accept these antisocial behaviours on the basis is just 'part of our national culture'," he said.

"What you had to tolerate was unacceptable and we feel we have let you down."

Red Badge Security also reached out to Ms Ross after the game, admitting it "lost control".

Newshub.