South Africa lodged a complaint with the International Cricket Council on Wednesday after alleging one of their players was racially abused by a spectator during the third Test against Australia in Sydney.
South Africa manager Mickey Arthur told a news conference that fast bowler Andre Nel had been taunted by a spectator while he was fielding near the boundary rope.
Arthur said Nel reported the incident to the on-field umpires who referred the matter to the ICC match referee. The ICC has no sanctions to deal with racial abuse.
Cricket Australia authorities announced a crackdown on unruly spectator behaviour after the South Africans lodged an earlier complaint about racial abuse in Afrikaans during the first Test in Perth.
"None of the team minds any form of abuse because it happens in any country...but we feel once it becomes a racist taunt then the boundaries are being overstepped," Arthur said.
"The South African team categorically deplores that type of behaviour...we do feel that boundaries are being crossed when that sort of thing transpires out there."
Officials banned the sale of full-strength beer at the Sydney Cricket Ground before the third Test and beefed up security at the section where Nel said he was abused.
"If it did happen, there's nothing the players can do about it, but I ask the crowd to show a bit more respect than what's being shown to the South Africans right at the moment," Australian captain Ricky Ponting said.
"It's unacceptable and we would like to think that it won't happen again for the rest of this game."
Arthur said the South Africans are satisfied the situation had been dealt with properly.
"We've moved on, it's not an issue any more," he said. "We feel we've dealt with it in the right way and it's not going to affect the way we play tomorrow. We've made our stand and that's it."
Nel has enjoyed a love-hate relationship with Australian crowds this summer through his intimidating on-field antics. Arthur said his behaviour was not behind the racial taunts.
"Everyone boos when he comes on but I think he's going to leave Australia as one of the more popular guys.
"He's going to be a very popular figure whose left his mark and people are going to remember him."
