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  • Disgraced Rugby Player Israel Folau wants $10 million

    The disgraced rugby player, Israel Folau has launched a $10 million lawsuit against Rugby Australia.

    Israel Folau was dismissed from his position at Rugby Australia earlier this year after a series of homophobic tweets surfaced. At the time he was one of the highest-paid sportspeople in Australian sport.

    In April the Australian Rugby Union served Israel Folau with a contract ending breach notice, following on from offensive social media posts, one of which said that “hell awaits” gay people and bashing transgender people, using his Christian beliefs as a defence for his views.

    In June Folau and Rugby Australia entered mediation at a Fair Work Commission hearing. There was no resolution after a near four-hour meeting.

    Now Folau has apparently filed a lawsuit and wants a cool $10 million in compensation from Rugby Australia to cover the loss of sponsorship and potential future contracts.

    Free Speech, Religious Freedoms or both?

    Under the Fair Work Act, it is not legal to sack an employee for an employee’s religion. Folau’s suit is a test case in this area and could determine “whether the word ‘religion’ should be interpreted to include protection for an employee’s religious expression and activities” according to employment layer Josh Bornstein.

    Many of Folau’s supporters have raised concerns over whether the player’s right to free speech was curbed.

  • Israel Folah’s contract is ending after ‘Gay Hell’ social posts

    Disgraced Rugby player Israel Folau’s contract has been terminated after a series of offensive social media posts.

    The Australian Rugby Union has served Israel Folau with a contract ending breech notice, following on from offensive social media posts, one of which said that “hell awaits” gay people.

    He can now accept the breach notice, in which case his contract is formerly ended or he can challenge it with a hearing.

    Last week he posted on Instagram that “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters” should “repent” because “only Jesus saves”.

    “Israel was warned formally and repeatedly”

    Chief Executive of Rugby Australia, Raelene Castle said, “At its core, this is an issue of the responsibilities an employee owes to their employer and the commitments they make to their employer to abide by their employer’s policies and procedures and adhere to their employer’s values.

    “Following the events of last year, Israel was warned formally and repeatedly about the expectations of him as a player for the Wallabies and NSW Waratahs with regards to social media use and he has failed to meet those obligations.

    “It was made clear to him that any social media posts or commentary that is in any way disrespectful to people because of their sexuality will result in disciplinary action.

    “All professional Rugby players in Australia are bound by the Code of Conduct and there is a process in place for any disciplinary matter. We appreciate that this particular matter will attract significant interest, but due process must be followed.”

    Embed from Getty Images

    In 2018 he received a backlash after another anti-gay tweet, in which said gay people would go to hell unless “they repent their sins and turn to God.”

  • Rugby player to be fired after series of anti-LGBT+ social media posts

    Rugby player, Israel Folau has come under fire for anti-LGBT+ social media posts.

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/125524007@N08/ [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]
    Australian rugby player, Israel Folau, 30, is set to be fired by Rugby Australia and the New South Wales Rugby Union after a social media post by the player suggested that “hell awaits” gay people.

    On Wednesday, he posted on Instagram that “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters” should “repent” because “only Jesus saves”.

    Embed from Getty Images

    In a statement, the governing bodies said, “He does not speak for the game with his recent social media posts, In the absence of compelling mitigating factors, it is our intention to terminate his contract.”

    “Israel has failed to understand that the expectation of him as a Rugby Australia and NSW Waratahs employee is that he cannot share material on social media that condemns, vilifies or discriminates against people on the basis of their sexuality,” the governing bodies said in a statement.

    “As a code, we have made it clear to Israel formally and repeatedly that any social media posts or commentary that is in any way disrespectful to people because of their sexuality will result in disciplinary action.”

    “Turn away from evil”

    Embed from Getty Images

    In another tweet sent on Tuesday, Folau wrote “The devil has blinded so many people in this world, REPENT and turn away from your evil ways. Turn to Jesus Christ who will set you free”, after Tasmania opted to make a baby’s gender optional on birth certificates in its state.

  • Gay People ‘Will Go to Hell’: Rugby Star Sparks Outrage

    One of Australia’s biggest sports stars has sparked outrage, stating gay people will go to hell unless they repent their sins. Israel Folau, who plays for the New South Wales Warathas and is one of the linchpins of the national team, made the controversial comment while responding to a question on his Instagram and Twitter profiles. (more…)