NSWRL ban footy fan for 20 years over ‘disgusting’ Andrew Fifita racist abuse
The NSWRL have come down hard on the fan who racially abused Woy Woy Roosters captain-coach Andrew Fifita, sensationally banning him for two decades.
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The football fan who racially abused Woy Woy Roosters captain-coach Andrew Fifita has been sensationally banned from rugby league for 20 years.
The move comes as the former Sharks forward reignited vilification drama on social media.
Fifita, a Cronulla 2016 grand final hero, was targeted with a series of vile Instagram insults after a game last month where he was called “fat, old, lazy, weak, black, putrid a** dog”, an “a** c***”, and “monkey”.
The NSWRL integrity unit met on Thursday night and banned the perpetrator, Justin Bayley, for two decades. No criminal charges were laid.
A former NSW front-rower, Fifita shared Bayley’s putrid messages with this masthead. Bayley challenged Fifita to a fight, saying: “Ready when you are u fat a**.”
A NSWRL statement read: “NSWRL chief executive David Trodden said the racial vilification received by True Blue and Woy Woy coach Andrew Fifita was disgusting.
“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.”
Trodden said: “I have had a number of private conversations with Andrew Fifita and they will remain private.
“Andrew is one of our valued True Blues and he knows where I stand on the matter.”
Bayley sent Fifita the messages through the Instagram account of son, Chaice Bayley, who plays five-eighth for Wyong.
Fifita insisted he was racially abused by fans on June 9, which culminated in an ugly brawl between Woy Woy and Wyong fans behind the Woy Woy Oval grandstand.
Some players, excluding Fifita, emerged from the dressing room to become involved.
During that match, a fan threw a ball which hit Fifita’s daughter, an act which enraged the former NSW prop. Onlookers claim the ball could have been thrown by the father of a highly prominent NRL player.
Just as the matter appeared to settle, Fifita caused drama on Friday when he shared an Instagram post from which linked the NSWRL to racism.
The post read: “Always beside you @andrewfifta. @NSWRL should be ashamed of yasleves! If you don’t condemn it, you condone it. There’s no room for racism. BLACK, LOUD AND PROUD.”
Several Woy Woy players remain suspended for misconduct. They watched last weekend’s game against Dora Creek from the back of a ute parked behind the fence outside the ground.
Woy Woy fans have been accused of committing other off-field incidents this season, resulting in rival clubs Erina and Terrigal forfeiting matches to the Roosters.
Fifita accused the two clubs of “supporting racism” before being told by the NSWRL and Rugby League Central Coast board to either remove or edit the post to delete the names of both clubs.
Currently out injured, Fifita complied and called them ‘round 9 team’ and ‘round 10 team’ in a revised post.
Strangely, the post re-emerged on Friday with Terrigal and Erina being named again. Both clubs are furious at being connected to racism by Fifita.
Despite league rivals forfeiting to Woy Woy, Toukley has announced a team to play Woy Woy this Sunday in a wet-weather make-up game from round four.
In his original post, which was revived on Friday, Fifita wrote: “Terrigal Shark and Erina Eagles, thank you for the (forfeit) points, but not for supporting racism.
“Toukley Hawks, let’s see what you will do next week.”
After forfeits over successive weeks, Dora Creek Swampies agreed to play Woy Woy last weekend. Roosters players took to one knee pre-game last weekend to oppose racism.
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