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 'He knows I didn't say it' NHL can't corroborate alleged racial slur by Domi
Posted: Tuesday May 04, 1999 01:02 PM
NEW YORK (Ticker) -- NHL officials could not independently corroborate charges by Philadelphia Flyers right wing Sandy McCarthy that Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer Tie Domi directed a racial slur at him in Monday's playoff game. "None of the on-ice or off-ice officials could confirm having heard an offensive remark," Colin Campbell, NHL senior vice president and director of hockey operations, said Tuesday night. "The league is on record as having a zero-tolerance policy regarding any racially motivated behavior, and any claim that a taunt or slur took place is an extremely serious one. "After a thorough investigation, however, we have concluded this allegation cannot be independently substantiated." Members of the league's security and operations departments conducted interviews today with personnel from both teams as well as on- and off-ice officials. Several different videotapes of the game and the alleged incident were studied. No independent support for McCarthy's allegation could be obtained, Campbell said. "It is extremely unfortunate any incident would arise to distract from a highly competitive Stanley Cup series," he added. The alleged incident took place in the second period of the Maple Leafs' 2-1 victory in Game Three of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. McCarthy, whose father is black and whose mother is Native American, said Domi used the slur during a broken play. "Their line came on and we went on and he said I spit on him. He went over to the ref. I went over and said, 'What are you doing whining again?' and then he came by and he called me a racial slur," McCarthy said. "It was something I really didn't like against my race." The altercation was brought to the attention of NHL supervisor of officals John D'Amico. "The officials mentioned to me that Sandy McCarthy on the ice went to one of the officials and said that Tie Domi said that he had called me the 'N' word," D'Amico said. "None of the officials on the ice heard it at all. On the other side of the fence, Tie Domi said that one of the players on the Philadelphia Flyers organization spat in his face. None of the officials saw that, either. Was there some, say saliva, around his chest or face area? Yes, there was." Domi vehemently denied using any racial slur. "I don't know what he's talking about," he said. "He knows I didn't say it. I skated by the bench and he spit in my face. I went and told the linesman and the referee. The referee told me to wipe it off my face. Then while I was over there, he skated over to the ref, trying to compromise by saying I called him whatever. I said, 'You know I didn't say that.' By no means do I use those kinds of words and he knows that." The Leafs hold a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, which resumes Wednesday night in Philadelphia. Last season, Chris Simon and Craig Berube of the Washington Capitals were suspended for directing racial remarks at Mike Grier of the Edmonton Oilers and Peter Worrell of the Florida Panthers, respectively. Berube is now a member of the Flyers.
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