The woman accused of racially abusing Indigenous Adelaide Crows footballer Eddie Betts by throwing a banana at him during Saturday’s showdown game has apologised for her behaviour.

The Port Adelaide supporter released a statement through the football club on Monday confirming she would take part in the club’s cultural awareness program and would accept sanctions to punish her.

The passionate fan was filmed throwing the banana at Betts near the end of the Power’s loss to hometown rivals at Adelaide Oval.

The statement said she regretted any embarrassment she had caused the “entire Port Adelaide Football Club community”.

“I apologise to Eddie Betts and the Adelaide Football Club as it was never my intention to cause harm or distress to your players or supporters,” it read.

“Going to a game of football is meant to be a fun and enjoyable event for all and I apologise for ruining it for so many.

“I regret my momentary lapse of judgement and I did not attend the game with the predetermined attitude of bringing the game into disrepute or to offend anyone.”

She said the emotions of the game “got the better of me”.

The 24-year-old woman has been banned indefinitely from attending Port Adelaide football matches.

“I will accept the sanctions given to me as a result of this incident, with the strongest understanding that there is no place for this kind of behaviour.”

Earlier on Monday, Port Adelaide said it was clear the woman’s behaviour was racially motivated, which breached the club’s values and spectator code of conduct.

The Port Adelaide fan at the centre of the incident. Photo: Twitter.

Port Adelaide member services general manager Matthew Richardson told 891 ABC Adelaide the club had been in touch with the woman.

“She quite clearly recognises that she’s made a terrible mistake and we’ll work with her on that,” he said.

“We have got a very proud reputation, we’ve got industry leading Indigenous programs and cultural awareness programs so we will actually get her involved in those so that she can actually understand what she’s done.

“We do quite extensive cultural awareness training with all our staff, so we’ll involve her in that program, and that does include our Indigenous players.”

Mr Richardson said the response from fellow Port Adelaide Football Club members since the incident had been encouraging.

“The way that people have responded to this incident, that it’s totally unacceptable, in some ways is quite encouraging,” he said.

Betts ‘looking to move on from incident’

Adelaide Football Club chief executive officer Andrew Fagan said Betts was a resilient player who would be looking to move on from the incident quickly as the Crows prepare for finals.

Mr Fagan said the incident was completely offensive and unacceptable, and encouraged the woman involved to take part in Port’s program.

“I have no doubt that he [Betts] considers these sorts of incidents deeply offensive to him and his people, but he’s a resilient character and I think he’d be looking to move on quickly,” Mr Fagan said.

“It has sadly occurred in sports around the world, the act of throwing a banana.

A Port Adelaide fan has been banned after throwing a banana at indigenous Crows player Eddie Betts. #sun7 https://t.co/mV8YCGP0ff

— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) August 21, 2016

“It has absolutely significant connotations and slurs on targeted cultural groups, in this respect, Indigenous Australians, and so in my view it is absolutely deeply racist and offensive.

“It should not happen and it should be rejected by every individual who is a part of football.”

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill, who is a Port Adelaide supporter, said the incident had overshadowed what was otherwise a terrific night.

He said Port Adelaide had a proud history of embracing Indigenous culture.

“One person trashes all of that with an act of stupidity, so instead of talking about all these great things, we’re in fact talking about her and I’m just incredibly angry about that.”

Risk of ‘pack mentality’ against woman

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan this afternoon said Port Adelaide should assess the remorse of the supporter responsible before deciding whether she deserved a lifetime ban.

“We are very pleased that the behaviour was called out by so many in our community, even by Port Adelaide fans around where the incident occurred on Saturday night,” he said.

Banana throwing ‘unambiguously racist’: McLachlan. Photo: Getty

“I’m very pleased with the swift response of the Port Adelaide Football Club and the actions they’ve taken and we continue to work towards a football environment where these incidents don’t occur.”

However, Mr McLachlan said there was a risk the woman could be demonised for her behaviour.

“We’re in 2016 and I think ultimately people have to be accountable for their actions,” he said.

“I think there’s a responsibility for people, yes, to be cautious about that [demonising the woman], that’s distinct from individuals being accountable for their behaviour.

“Ultimately there’s a risk from the pack mentality as well, but ultimately I don’t want to distract from people being accountable for what is clearly a racist act.”