Israel please stop. If not for your career, for your wife’s
Israel Folau’s career is in disarray and he’s significantly hurt any chance the Wallabies had of World Cup glory because of his strange personal quest. But his Thunderbird wife is still in the game, for now, writes Warren Partland.
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As a rugby player, Israel Folau is an absolute gun who can do things on the field outside the capabilities of most Wallabies.
So it is annoying he won’t be at the World Cup in Japan in September. No Folau, no Wallabies.
But as a person he is surely naive and poorly advised.
RELATED: GoFundMe close Folau’s campaign citing the promotion of discrimination
When he put out those religion-fuelled social-media posts he must have known there was going to be damage and consequences. Social media wise, he had been living on the edge.
There are gay rugby players, even atheists and idolaters, who love the game and are causing him no grief at all.
They are not deserving of a so-called hero of the sport slamming their life choice.
Only last year Australia voted for gay marriage.
A year later, Folau is telling them all they are going to hell for a life choice the majority of Australians gave the thumbs up to.
MORE FROM RENDEZVIEW: Israel Folau, your Jesus isn’t the one I believe in
But it wasn’t just his homophobic rants. He tried to shame me and others in his posts for having been drunk. Honestly, who hasn’t been?
Why do I have to conform by his rules or those he is so devoted to? So back off on the public judgment of me.
He can think I am an idiot for having one beer, maybe two, too many. But sometimes it is best to keep your opinions to yourself.
Putting out social posts with words you know are going to cause angst is no different to the loudmouth in the room talking over everyone to ram their point home. Agree or disagree, they attract trouble.
MORE FROM RENDEZVIEW: Who cares what a footy player thinks?
And there are quite a few people heading to hell on his list. Although it must be noted the adulterers and liars have been quiet in their condemnation of Folau.
Then again, where does free speech start and end? Weren’t his posts more or less quoting directly from the Bible? Therefore, aren’t his critics just knocking Christianity?
Unlike, it seems, the majority of people, his religious posts didn’t bother me too much because I don’t care for what he has to say outside comments on rugby.
I absolutely don’t agree with him, or his need to bombard social media, but there are more important worries in my life than getting upset by the opinions of someone I do not know personally.
MORE FROM RENDEZVIEW: The real problem with our Israel Folau outrage
I do, however, know his wife Maria, having interviewed her as a netball player.
And she is a well-liked lady, loved among her Thunderbirds’ teammates.
Interacting with the fans comes easy to her. But it was interesting to note the words of a passionate Thunderbirds fan at the game at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Sunday.
Quoting the fan: “I can understand she wants to stand by Israel, but she would have been smart to stay out of it. I like what she brings to the team, but not what she stands for”.
What upset many people is Maria re-posting Israel’s GoFundMe page seeking donations for his legal fight against Rugby Australia.
MORE FROM RENDEZVIEW: By Izzy’s standards we’re all doomed
The best thing to happen was the page being taken down and the donations returned.
It was an absolute joke, and an embarrassment. He preaches a religious message, yet wants money — which could go to the Salvation Army, the homeless, so many worthy Christian causes — for lawyer bills.
Wasn’t Israel being selfish in allowing Maria to click on re-post anyway? His career is in disarray and he has significantly hurt any chance the Wallabies had of World Cup glory because of his strange personal quest.
Maria is still playing for the Thunderbirds in the toughest domestic competition in the game and this week leaves for England to front for New Zealand in the Netball World Cup.
Of course she wants to stand by her husband.
But Israel, you may have wrecked your career, but let Maria finish hers and keep her name away from whatever you are trying to do.
By re-posting the GoFundMe page, she was always going to be targeted for criticism.
Warren Partland is The Advertiser’s netball reporter.
Originally published as Israel please stop. If not for your career, for your wife’s