In the wake of his latest homophobic outburst – gays, among other sinners, are heading to hell once more – Israel Folau has to go, and will go.
Quick. Clean. Gone. At least until such times as he repents.
Israel Folau has exercised his rights to freedom of speech, just as the rest of us have exerted our rights to call him out for it.Credit:AAP
His contract will be suspended or terminated on the grounds of having breached either rugbys social media policy, or his contract.
Rugby Australia simply has no choice. They cannot go through one more time the agony of last year when Folaus social media comments trumpeting that gays would go to hell, saw rugby lose sponsors, fans, and support.
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Then it took three weeks for Folau to pull his head in, and it seemed like he got it: that you couldnt be a standard bearer for the inclusive game of rugby and put out bigoted nastiness like that.
This time, it wont take three weeks. Rugby must surely move quickly, or be made to look ridiculous.
All of the dynamics that applied last year – outrage in the rugby and wider community, people swearing not to go to games, volunteers threatening to leave the game, sponsors looking at tearing up their contracts – apply this year, but there is one difference.
Back then, it seemed it wasnt clear to Folau what he could and could not do.
After that storm though, he can now be in no doubt … and has done it anyway. Instead of lifting his index finger and pointing to the Lord in thanks as he is wont to do when scoring his many tries – as of last Saturday more tries than anyone in Super Rugby ever – he has effectively lifted his middle finger and showed it to gays, Rugby Australia, the rugby community, sponsors, the lot.
How can Rugby Australia not stand him down in response?
When they do, Folau will be inevitably defended by a certain section of the commentariat and community, spouting his right to "freedom of speech."
They dont get it.
That would apply if he was being dragged off to prison for his expressed views. He is not.
He has exercised his rights to freedom of speech, just as the rest of us have exerted our rights to call him out for it, and Rugby Australia will be surely exerting its right to ensure that an employee to whom they are paying a reputed two million dollars a year comports himself in a manner that brings people into their tent, and doesnt drive them away from it.
Rugby Australia will be saying, "You can continue to exert your right to speak, but NOT as our employee, as you disgrace what we stand for."
After the events of last year, it will surely have been written into his contract that he is no longer allowed to post homophobic rants, and therefore rugbys own right to stand him down should be fairly cut and dried. If it was not written in his contract, Rugby Australia will have a serious case to answer as to why he was signed again wiRead More – Source
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