Rugby Australia Fires Israel Folau for "contentious online posts"

[Anonymous]

"Rugby Australia on Friday terminated Folau's four-year contract, 10 days after an independent panel found the 30-year-old fullback guilty of a high-level breach of the players' code of conduct for his contentious post in mid-April.



"Folau can appeal the decision but it appears, at least for now, that his career has gone down in flames. The saga also has thrown Australia's preparations for the Rugby World Cup into turmoil.



"A self-described devout Christian, Folau said he was merely posting a passage from the bible and he refused to take down the online post. For rugby Australia, it boiled down to a contract issue."





https://sports.yahoo.com/rugby-australia-terminates-folaus-contract-052418442--spt.html">//https://sports.yahoo.com/rugby-australia-terminates-folaus-contract-052418442--spt.html

[Anonymous]

"Rugby Australia on Friday terminated Folau's four-year contract, 10 days after an independent panel found the 30-year-old fullback guilty of a high-level breach of the players' code of conduct for his contentious post in mid-April.



"Folau can appeal the decision but it appears, at least for now, that his career has gone down in flames. The saga also has thrown Australia's preparations for the Rugby World Cup into turmoil.



"A self-described devout Christian, Folau said he was merely posting a passage from the bible and he refused to take down the online post. For rugby Australia, it boiled down to a contract issue."





https://sports.yahoo.com/rugby-australia-terminates-folaus-contract-052418442--spt.html">//https://sports.yahoo.com/rugby-australia-terminates-folaus-contract-052418442--spt.html

I don't use social media very often..



But, if I do, I know not only fellow Christians will read what I write..



So, I'm careful that I don't antagonize secular people.

[Gaon]

"Rugby Australia on Friday terminated Folau's four-year contract, 10 days after an independent panel found the 30-year-old fullback guilty of a high-level breach of the players' code of conduct for his contentious post in mid-April.



"Folau can appeal the decision but it appears, at least for now, that his career has gone down in flames. The saga also has thrown Australia's preparations for the Rugby World Cup into turmoil.



"A self-described devout Christian, Folau said he was merely posting a passage from the bible and he refused to take down the online post. For rugby Australia, it boiled down to a contract issue."





https://sports.yahoo.com/rugby-australia-terminates-folaus-contract-052418442--spt.html">//https://sports.yahoo.com/rugby-australia-terminates-folaus-contract-052418442--spt.html

That's unfortunate Australian rugby loses a good player.

[Anonymous]

Playing professional sports is a privilege, not a right..



And if they have specific rules about public speech, they accept those rules as a condition of employment.

[caskur]

"Rugby Australia on Friday terminated Folau's four-year contract, 10 days after an independent panel found the 30-year-old fullback guilty of a high-level breach of the players' code of conduct for his contentious post in mid-April.



"Folau can appeal the decision but it appears, at least for now, that his career has gone down in flames. The saga also has thrown Australia's preparations for the Rugby World Cup into turmoil.



"A self-described devout Christian, Folau said he was merely posting a passage from the bible and he refused to take down the online post. For rugby Australia, it boiled down to a contract issue."





https://sports.yahoo.com/rugby-australia-terminates-folaus-contract-052418442--spt.html">//https://sports.yahoo.com/rugby-australia-terminates-folaus-contract-052418442--spt.html

That's unfortunate Australian rugby loses a good player.

A complete and thorough injustice served to Israel Folau and every other person who dares to cross homosexuals quoting a holy book..

[Anonymous]

"Rugby Australia on Friday terminated Folau's four-year contract, 10 days after an independent panel found the 30-year-old fullback guilty of a high-level breach of the players' code of conduct for his contentious post in mid-April.



"Folau can appeal the decision but it appears, at least for now, that his career has gone down in flames. The saga also has thrown Australia's preparations for the Rugby World Cup into turmoil.



"A self-described devout Christian, Folau said he was merely posting a passage from the bible and he refused to take down the online post. For rugby Australia, it boiled down to a contract issue."





https://sports.yahoo.com/rugby-australia-terminates-folaus-contract-052418442--spt.html">//https://sports.yahoo.com/rugby-australia-terminates-folaus-contract-052418442--spt.html

That's unfortunate Australian rugby loses a good player.

A complete and thorough injustice served to Israel Folau and every other person who dares to cross homosexuals quoting a holy book..

Athletes need to be aware of league rules.

[caskur]

"Rugby Australia on Friday terminated Folau's four-year contract, 10 days after an independent panel found the 30-year-old fullback guilty of a high-level breach of the players' code of conduct for his contentious post in mid-April.



"Folau can appeal the decision but it appears, at least for now, that his career has gone down in flames. The saga also has thrown Australia's preparations for the Rugby World Cup into turmoil.



"A self-described devout Christian, Folau said he was merely posting a passage from the bible and he refused to take down the online post. For rugby Australia, it boiled down to a contract issue."





https://sports.yahoo.com/rugby-australia-terminates-folaus-contract-052418442--spt.html">//https://sports.yahoo.com/rugby-australia-terminates-folaus-contract-052418442--spt.html

That's unfortunate Australian rugby loses a good player.

A complete and thorough injustice served to Israel Folau and every other person who dares to cross homosexuals quoting a holy book..

Athletes need to be aware of league rules.

Is the League rule legal though? Think about it....

[Bricktop]

He will appeal.



He also has a lot of support amongst his fellow players.



This has a long way to run, as it drives at the very heart of free speech and religion.



Pass the popcorn, Peaches...if there's any left...

[Anonymous]

"Rugby Australia on Friday terminated Folau's four-year contract, 10 days after an independent panel found the 30-year-old fullback guilty of a high-level breach of the players' code of conduct for his contentious post in mid-April.



"Folau can appeal the decision but it appears, at least for now, that his career has gone down in flames. The saga also has thrown Australia's preparations for the Rugby World Cup into turmoil.



"A self-described devout Christian, Folau said he was merely posting a passage from the bible and he refused to take down the online post. For rugby Australia, it boiled down to a contract issue."





https://sports.yahoo.com/rugby-australia-terminates-folaus-contract-052418442--spt.html">//https://sports.yahoo.com/rugby-australia-terminates-folaus-contract-052418442--spt.html

That's unfortunate Australian rugby loses a good player.

A complete and thorough injustice served to Israel Folau and every other person who dares to cross homosexuals quoting a holy book..

Athletes need to be aware of league rules.

Is the League rule legal though? Think about it....

If there's a court challenge, we'll know.

[caskur]

He will appeal.



He also has a lot of support amongst his fellow players.



This has a long way to run, as it drives at the very heart of free speech and religion.



Pass the popcorn, Peaches...if there's any left...

Well by rights, he should win in court..



But he could play overseas and get more money.. He should do that.



There are threats other Islanders won't play for Australia. Most Islanders are devout Christians.

[Anonymous]

There are threats other Islanders won't play for Australia. Most Islanders are devout Christians.

Evidently calling oneself a "devout Christian" in some circles in Australia allows one to do a lot of cherry picking of the NT.



Kind of like the way some "devout Christian" in the US do it.



But caskur, are you seying that players will boycott the league if not permitted to shoot their mouths off in this way?  



Sounds like a sort of sharia law to me.

[Bricktop]

They have insinuated that if Israel (anyone else noted the irony of that name) is banned, they will walk.



They can certainly move to other rugby nations like the UK, France, Japan and even the US and earn good money.



Whilst an atheist, sacking a man for quoting a biblical passage is draconian in my view.

[Anonymous]

"Rugby Australia on Friday terminated Folau's four-year contract, 10 days after an independent panel found the 30-year-old fullback guilty of a high-level breach of the players' code of conduct for his contentious post in mid-April.



"Folau can appeal the decision but it appears, at least for now, that his career has gone down in flames. The saga also has thrown Australia's preparations for the Rugby World Cup into turmoil.



"A self-described devout Christian, Folau said he was merely posting a passage from the bible and he refused to take down the online post. For rugby Australia, it boiled down to a contract issue."





https://sports.yahoo.com/rugby-australia-terminates-folaus-contract-052418442--spt.html">//https://sports.yahoo.com/rugby-australia-terminates-folaus-contract-052418442--spt.html

I will have to read the details of this later.

[Wazzzup]

They have insinuated that if Israel (anyone else noted the irony of that name) is banned, they will walk.



They can certainly move to other rugby nations like the UK, France, Japan and even the US and earn good money.



Whilst an atheist, sacking a man for quoting a biblical passage is draconian in my view.

Agreed.  While its not as eggregious as government doing it, it's still a major affront to free speech and freedom of religion.  



I'm glad other players are standing with him.  Most people cower and hide to protect themselves when this stuff happens- that's how tyranny wins.

[Bricktop]

To be fair, his tweet was a bit silly and pointless. And I sure disagree with it's religious sentiment.



But he has a right to that view.



Stifling speech is the first step to tyranny, in my view.