Tasmania JackJumpers’ CEO Christine Finnegan confident club has full support of NBL and Basketball Australia in wake of social media abuse
Tasmania JackJumpers CEO Christine Finnegan is confident they have the full support of the NBL and Basketball Australia after recent social media attacks on players and families.
Tasmania JackJumpers CEO Christine Finnegan says the club will continue to “wrap our arms” around it’s players and families in the wake of recent online abuse.
Speaking to this masthead on Sunday following head coach Scott Roth’s emotional pleas on Saturday for the league to act on such targeted attacks, Finnegan said she had been in contact with both the NBL and Basketball Australia and was confident the club had their full support.
“We’ve had incredible support from the NBL and the Basketball Australia Integrity Unit,” Finnegan said.
“Their CEO (Dave Stevenson) rang me this morning to make sure that we knew we had their full support as well. “We are very well supported as a community. We all rally together when times get a little bit tough, and this is no exception.”
While Finnegan added online abuse directed at players and coaches was sadly nothing new, she said any type of hate, abuse or threats directed at them or their family members wouldn’t be tolerated.
“This online trolling is something that all clubs, teams, coaches and players across all sports have to deal with as part of their, unfortunately, daily lives,” Finnegan said.
“But the elevated nature of it over the last two weeks has certainly disturbed the team and the players. On the whole, they know how to manage this space and ignore it. But when it starts to infiltrate into their lives and their girlfriends and their children and other members of their families that’s when we all have to say that enough is enough and draw the line.”
EARLIER
Tasmania JackJumpers coach Scott Roth has launched an impassioned and emotional plea to NBL officials to act on social media abuse directed at both JackJumpers players and family members over recent days.
Speaking post his side’s much needed win over New Zealand on Saturday, Roth began his post-game press conference with an emotional address and revealed a number of family members of JackJumpers players had been attacked online following the NBL champions tough start to the year.
“This last 24 hours has been quite emotional for our group,” Roth said.
“We have a lot of distraught players, family members, wives, spouses and children. We have been attacked brutally through social media, to the point that it’s ugly.
“We have a player whose wife is pregnant and they wish for a miscarriage. These attacks have been going on for weeks and it came to a head yesterday (Friday). We deserve better. We have worked very hard here (Tasmania) for three years.
“If you don’t like the way we play, I get it. But to go after people’s mothers, fathers and kids and to do that in the brutal way that this has transpired, it’s beyond crossing the line.
“When you have a family member now scared to go outside their house and kids’ reading what they are reading, the NBL must do something.
“It’s been very emotional for our group and the fact that we even came to play the way we did today is really a testament to this group.
“The league needs to protect us.”
When pressed further on what he would like to see league officials do, Roth urged for a proactive approach and sent a firm reminder to fans that any type of abuse wasn’t okay.
“It’s coming from gamblers and general fans that feel like they can spew whatever they want out of their mouths,” he said.
“It’s just a basketball game, it’s entertainment. Who cares at the end of the day? We are just here to entertain and play as hard as we can.
“This is not life or death and it’s disgusting and the NBL must act.
“We go to the Blitz and we talk about integrity and all these things (so) at some point or another, do them.
“Let’s be proactive across the board and look at what’s going on and touch base with teams.”
JackJumpers CEO Christine Finnegan later released a statement confirming Basketball Australia’s Integrity Unit were looking into the online abuse.
“(The) JackJumpers were made aware of these threats this morning (Saturday) and made immediate contact with the Basketball Australia Integrity Unit who advised that they were giving this their highest priority to look into this matter,” Finnegan said.
“The players are advised in their integrity education sessions to refer all matters of harassment to the Basketball Australia Integrity Unit, which they have done.
“The club has offered its unconditional support to all members of our club and their partners who feel violated by this behaviour.
“The club will work with the Basketball Australia Integrity Unit to ensure that we leave no stone unturned in finding a solution to end this behaviour.”
The NBL has also since issued a statement acknowledging the issues highlighted by Roth in his post-match press conference.
Basketball Australia, the NBL and the Tasmania JackJumpers acknowledge the issues highlighted by JackJumpers coach Scott Roth in tonight’s post-game press conference.
— NBL Communications (@NBLComms) November 9, 2024
Online abuse is a matter we are actively addressing, and player safety is paramount.
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