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Aussie football star's bikie gang father faces deportation

Xinhua, March 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

The father of one of Australia's best footballers is set to be deported back to New Zealand after being linked to Australia's largest outlaw motorcycle gang.

Shane Martin, father of Australian rules football star Dustin, is a New Zealand native, and could be deported home because he allegedly failed to meet the government's minimum character requirements.

Local media reported that Shane Martin was detained in Sydney yesterday following the cancellation of his residency visa.

Dan Richardson, head of football at the Richmond Football Club, the team which Dustin plays for, said the club would be providing support to Martin as further details of his father's potential deportation arise.

"We'll support Dustin as we would all our players," Richardson told News Corp.

"He'll be OK and hopefully with our support he'll be fine. It'll be tough on him."

Martin's detainment is a result of a federal government crackdown on outlaw motorcycle gangs; more than 1000 bikies and organized crime figures have already had residency visas cancelled - a large proportion of them from across the Tasman Sea.

The Immigration Department refused to comment on Martin's case, with a spokesperson telling News Corp that it "doesn't comment on individual cases".

Local media also reported that Shane Martin is allegedly one of the Rebels' most highly-ranked officials,and shares a close relationship with his football star son.

The pair have matching "Live Free. Die Free" tattoos on their necks, and while Shane is a New Zealand native, Dustin was born and grew up outside of Melbourne in Australia. Endit