Maria Folau backed by coach, cleared of breach amid pressure from ANZ

Maria Folau’s coach has backed her as Netball NZ clears her of a breach.

Maria and Israel Folau. Picture: Getty Images

Silver Ferns head coach Noeline Taurua has thrown her support behind star shooter Maria Folau, insisting the player had “done nothing wrong”.

In an interview with stuff.co.nz, Taurua said that it was a fluid, complex situation and that she wanted to keep her team’s priorities on the court.

“I have no concerns with her place in the team from a performance perspective. There’s no reason why [she shouldn’t be there] from a performance perspective,” she said.

Earlier today Netball New Zealand has said that Silver Fern Maria Folau has not breached any of the team’s policies, after one of the team’s major sponsors raised concerns about her support for husband Israel Folau’s crowd-funding campaign.

A spokesman for ANZ, which sponsors both the Silver Ferns and New Zealand’s netball league, told Stuff that the bank does not support “the views of Silver Fern Maria Folau”. The spokesman added that these concerns have been expressed to Netball NZ, and that the company will continue to support the sport.

Maria Folau had been silent throughout her husband’s fight against his former employer, Rugby Australia, but on Friday morning shared his now-cancelled GoFundMe crowd-funding campaign on her own social media platforms.

She is set to play a key role in the Silver Fern’s World Cup campaign in Liverpool next month.

Netball NZ made its first comment on the story in a statement earlier today.

“Maria Folau has not breached NNZ policy,” the statement said.

“Netball New Zealand values inclusion and diversity across all areas of the community and our sport whether its (sic) gender, ethnicity, socio economic status, sexuality, religion, and we take responsibility as role models for young New Zealanders very seriously.

“We acknowledge that people have differing views and beliefs. It is important those opinions and views are expressed in constructive and respectful ways.

“There will be no further comment.”

The move followed similar statements from Netball Australia and Netball South Australia on Sunday afternoon. Both groups agreed that Folau had not breached any social media policies, and that while they were committed to creating an inclusive environment, no further action was necessary.

Former Diamonds captain Liz Ellis labelled those statements “not good enough” in a tweet that has now been shared more than 1,600 times.