Indian cricketer Harbhajan cleared of racist gestures

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2008

SYDNEY (AFP) — Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh was cleared here Monday of making racist gestures and spitting at fans during his team's one-day win over Australia on Sunday.

Harbhajan was crucial in Sunday's victory that gave India a 1-0 lead in the tri-series finals, claiming the key wickets of Andrew Symonds and Matthew Hayden.

However, it was then claimed in the local media that he made monkey gestures by scratching his armpits with both hands in a similar fashion to Indian fans taunting Symonds last year, then spat at the crowd.

Indian officials leapt to his defence and match referee Jeff Crowe, who investigated the claims, found no evidence to support the allegations.

"I have investigated the alleged incident with Cricket Australia's ground...