South African captain Graeme Smith said he couldn't condone the comments by Gibbs but said the team was angry about the incidents which led to the player's outburst.
Speaking before International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee Chris Broad made his finding, Smith accused Pakistan supporters of racial abuse.
Gibbs was found guilty by Broad after being charged by ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed of a Level 3 offence for using “language or gestures that offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages or vilifies another person on the basis of that person's race, religion, colour, descent or national or ethic origin.”
In addition to Speed's intervention, the Pakistan Cricket Board lodged an official complaint with Broad through their team management.
Gibbs, who was photographed leaving the South African dressing room following the hearing with two beers in his hands, faces a separate Cricket South Africa hearing on Tuesday for contravening a clause in the body's code of conduct relating to verbal abuse or conduct “on the basis of race, religion, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin.” The hearing will be conducted by former judge Mervyn King.
Television viewers heard Gibbs making insulting remarks about Pakistan supporters when a stump microphone picked up what he said to team-mates in the centre of the field.
Speaking after South Africa completed a seven-wicket win over Pakistan, Smith hit out at abusive Pakistan supporters, poor security and television companies which allowed conversations on the field to be broadcast.
“There's a lot of anger,” he said. “There was quite a lot of racial abuse from the Pakistan fans towards our players and I think that provoked a lot of what happened.
“There was a particular incident where I went down and got security to move guys away from (boundary fielder) Paul Harris. Herschelle was down at third man and he was copping a lot of abuse and I think even racial abuse.
“For me the worrying thing is that Pakistan always have a large support base around the world. Security needs to be looked at. There was an incident where Makhaya (Ntini) was hit on the head by a Pakistan flag going up the stairs. The guys were provoked and that is why they are angry but we understand that what Herschelle did was wrong.”
Smith said the television company responsible for the stump mike were to blame for allowing Gibbs' comments to be broadcast.
“I think the television companies are actually in breach of their contracts with the stump mikes being on during overs. I think they're only meant to be on when the ball is about to be bowled. The television companies need to answer for that. That is disappointing but I guess, you know, they were on.”
SA chief executive Gerald Majola said in a statement: “CSA has investigated the matter and we have heard the remarks made by Herschelle Gibbs in response to verbal abuse directed by a number of Pakistan supporters at Paul Harris while he was fielding on the boundary.
“Herschelle says these remarks were for the ears only of his team-mates in his proximity, and were directed in general terms at that section of the crowd that had verbally abused Paul Harris. He has apologised if he has caused offence to anyone.”
Majola said the action was taken in terms of CSA regulations which stemmed from the International Cricket Council's anti-racism policy.
“CSA will continue to enforce these regulations rigidly, and we make a special plea to spectators to support their teams in the right spirit of the game,” said Majola.
It was reported from Pakistan that Saleem Altaf, the PCB director of cricket, had confirmed that a complaint had been made. Saleem said both the Pakistan and South African boards had copies of tapes of the remarks.—AFP