Fan handed two-decade ban over vile Andrew Fifita abuse

The NSWRL has made an extraordinary statement, handing out a massive ban over a series of vile and racially-based messages.

Andrew Fifita and his Instagram post. Photos: News Corp/Instagram

A racism furore that has erupted in the Rugby League Central Coast competition has taken another ugly turn.

Former NSW prop Andrew Fifita is at the centre of the storm, while a supposed rugby league fan has been handed an extraordinary 20-year ban from the sport over a disgraceful and abhorrent social media post.

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The situation ignited after a brawl broke out between fans during a June 9 game between Fifita’s Woy Woy Roosters and the Wyong Roos.

Fifita, who played 252 NRL games with the Tigers and Sharks and won a premiership with Cronulla in 2016, alleged he was racially abused in that incident.

It resulted in some players — excluding Fifita — leaving the dressing room to get involved in the fight.

There were allegations a fan threw a footy, which hit Fifita’s daughter, as reported by The Daily Telegraph.

Andrew Fifita and (inset) part of his Instagram post. Photos: News Corp/Instagram

Roosters player-coach Fifita was subsequently targeted in a series of horrific Instagram messages, calling him among other insults, a “fat, old, lazy, weak, black, putrid a** dog”, a “c***” and a “monkey”.

In a complex story to dissect, some Roosters fans were banned after the altercation and rival teams Erina and Terrigal then forfeited matches against Woy Woy.

The situation led Fifita to post a message to Instagram which called out Erina and Terrigal and accused them of “supporting racism”.

The 35-year-old was told by the NSWRL and Rugby League Central Coast to remove the names of the clubs, which he did initially, but they have since reappeared and the post is still on Fifita’s Instagram page at the time of writing this story.

After those consecutive matches were forfeited, Woy Woy competed against Dora Creek last weekend, with the Roosters winning 28-12 at Woy Woy Oval.

Roosters players took a knee before last week’s clash with Dora Creek. Photo: Sue Graham

“Our first game back after experiencing racial abuse,” Fifita wrote. “At @woywoyroosters_seniors, we firmly oppose racism.

“We’re taking a stand by kneeling before our games going forward. Some clubs refuse to play us because we refuse to be bystanders. Stand up, speak out, and support us. No one should endure this.

“Thank you, Dora Creek, for being the first to play against us. I wish I could have spoken with you after the game, but I have immense respect for you and the community.

“Terrigal Shark and Erina Eagles, thank you for the points (for forfeiting), but not for supporting racism.

“Toukley Hawks, let’s see what you will do next week.

“Blak, Loud & Proud.”

The post is accompanied by photos of the Roosters all kneeling before the game, along with messages on Fifita’s wrist tape, one showing the Aboriginal flag and the other with that same message “Blak, loud and proud”.

The Roosters are scheduled to face Toukley on Sunday.

Fifita had a decorated career in the NRL. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Meanwhile the patron who posted the vile messages to Fifita, which included challenging the 194cm prop to a fight, has been revealed as Justin Bayley.

After the NSWRL integrity unit met during the week, Bayley has been handed the stunning punishment of being barred from any involvement in rugby league for two decades.

“NSWRL chief executive David Trodden said the racial vilification received by True Blue and Woy Woy coach Andrew Fifita was disgusting,” read a statement from the NSWRL.

“The NSWRL treats such matters very seriously which is reflected in the fact the person responsible has received a 20-year suspension.

“Justin Bayley has been suspended from all facets of rugby league for 20 years after being found guilty of code of conduct breaches including racial vilification against Fifita following a Rugby League Central Coast first grade match between Woy Woy Roosters and Wyong Roos at Woy Woy Oval on Sunday, 9 June.”

According to the Telegraph, Bayley allegedly sent the messages to Fifita via his son Chaice Bayley’s Instagram account. Chaice Bayley plays for Wyong.

No police charges have been laid against Justin Bayley

Originally published as Fan handed two-decade ban over vile Andrew Fifita abuse