Adam Goodes imaginary spear auctioned online

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-33783023

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An eBay user has tried to auction an imaginary spear used by Australian Rules footballer Adam Goodes.

The Indigenous footballer became embroiled in a race row after fans regularly jeered and racially abused him during games.

In May, he performed an on-field war dance, a symbol of cultural pride, where he appeared to throw a spear.

The satirical eBay post said Goodes' spear could terrify an "entire small-minded crowd".

The advertisement, posted by a seller in the Australian Capital Territory, received bids of up to A$19,800 ($14,563, £9,371) from about 50 buyers before it was taken down, according to local media.

The Sydney Swans player's war dance has attracted wide-spread media coverage, and many social media users rallied to support the footballer, who has been an outspoken advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Some fans have defended the booing against him during matches, saying it is not racist.

Goodes took time off from the game because of the row but returned to training this week.

Captains from other Australian Rules teams, and many businesses and non-government organisations, have called for the racist treatment to stop.

By Wednesday afternoon, word of the "spear's" auction had spread to social media while another Australian eBay user was advertising the sale of a "spear" belonging to Goodes' team mate Lewis Jetta.

Jetta had reprised the war dance at a match against West Coast last month in support of Goodes.