Just over a year ago, a video captured a stomach turning altercation between a spectator and Lee Chin during a charity hurling match in Carrack on Suir.
The challenge match between Wexford and Tipperary descended into chaos after the Faythe Harriers man was racially abused from the sideline.
The perpetrator was given a 48-week ban by the GAA after an investigation and now, Lee Chin has spoke publically about the incident.
As Wexford prepare for their opening game of the Leinster SHC round robin series against Dublin, the Yellow Bellies' main man has addressed the events of the charity game for the first time.
Lee Chin opens up on the aftermath of the incident
The Wexford captain was representing his county at the launch of the Leinster SHC recently and he told the media about why he hasn't revealed the full extent the incident had on him until now.
There probably was a time I was going to talk about it, but there’s probably never a right or wrong time either, and last year, I just kind of let it flow over me because it was just a time that I wanted to let it slide for the minute.
It’s not something that I tend to have that attitude towards, I know it’s a very serious subject. It’s not that I tend to stay away from it because it creates too much fuss, it’s not that at all, but at the time, it just wasn’t right.
I was conscious at the time as well that the guy it happened with was going through an awful time as well. Obviously, with what he said, he was getting heat from it too and I just didn’t think it would have helped with me coming out and having a go everywhere as well.
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Lee Chin also spoke about the interactions and conversations he had with the man who racially abused him during the game.
I was quite conscious of him. I genuinely was, even my family were. We would be that way inclined at home and we were conscious of his feelings and how things can end up for him.
I received an apology from the man himself and we’ve exchanged phone calls since to talk about it. I remember the phone call I had with him and he was very sorrowful and couldn’t apologise more.
We had good conversations and I left the phone call wishing him well and letting him know I had no hard feelings towards him. Things like that, I hope, were helpful towards him.
While it might come as a surprise to many, Chin also added that he felt somewhat sorry for the man after the backlash he received.
Look, there was a part of me at the time that felt sorry for him as well, he has a family of his own and what happened was unfortunate, but sometimes things are said in the heat of the moment and they’re not meant with any great malice.
I had sympathy for him and his family at the time and still do, but I think he’s very sorry for what happened on the day and we did have conversations since and things are smooth, and I hope he’s doing well.
Lee Chin's comments and feelings only showcase the type of person he is over anything else, and the fact that the man's best interest and mental state were at the forefront of his own thoughts, speaks for itself.
At the time, it highlighted how far the GAA and spectators themselves still have to come and that there is no place in any sport or life where racially motivated language or actions can be tolerated.
Rather than expressing his immediate feelings after the incident, which still would have been more than justified, perhaps Chin's decision to take time to address the horrific incident publically will help remove any chance of this happening in the game ever again.
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