Ban shock: Indigenous community angered by decision to reduce ban

The Toowoomba and Darling Downs Indigenous communities are outraged by the results of appeal that ended with man’s lengthy ban for using a racial slur dramatically reduced. Details here.

INDIGENOUS leaders have called out Queensland Rugby League for not taking racism in the sport seriously after a decision to overturn a man’s 10-year ban for directing a racial slur at a First Nations player.

A Toowoomba Rugby League tribunal banned the man for 10 years in August after he was caught on camera saying “shut up you b — c—”, however on Monday, September 26 the man’s appeal to lessen the his sentence was granted by the QRL Central Region Disciplinary Appeal Tribunal.

“How do you go from a 10-year ban to just two,” Brothers Rugby League Club president and Indigenous community leader Lizzy Adams said.

“It’s absolutely shocking and it shows the QRL are not taking this matter seriously.

“You can have all the cultural sensitivity training and programs you like but when you have these types of decisions being made it means nothing.”

Ms Adams said the Toowoomba, Darling Downs and South West Queensland Indigenous communities are in an uproar following the appeal.

She also believes the dramatically shortened length of the ban means it amounts to little more than those handed out for careless tackles committed by players on the field according.

“Young players who commit a bad tackle, often by mistake, can be banned for a season in some cases,” Ms Adams said.

“What kind of message does this send when a player cops a ban for anywhere from four to 12 weeks for a bad tackle and we ban someone for two years for this type of behaviour.

“He must have had a very compelling case and I know a lot of people would like to hear what it is.

“I also know a lot of people would like to appeal this new decision if the option is there.”

EARLIER REPORT

THE Pittsworth man at the centre of a shocking racial slur scandal that rocked Toowoomba Rugby League has successfully appealed the severity of his ban.

A statement provided to The Chronicle by the QRL Central Region Disciplinary Appeal Tribunal has revealed the man’s ban will be reduced from 10 to two years.

The QRL Central Region Appeal Tribunal conducted a thorough process and reserved its decision to further consider historical cases of racial vilification across various sports.

As a result of the appeal the tribunal communicated the following:

* The appellant is expelled from the game of rugby league for a period of 10 years.

* The appellant’s expulsion is suspended after a period of two years provided the appellant meets with the local Indigenous Elders of Toowoomba, with the meeting to be facilitated by the QRL Indigenous Advisory Committee.

* The appellant must also provide a formal apology to the Gatton players that were the subject of the racial comment, the local Toowoomba Indigenous Community and the Gatton club; and complete a Cultural Awareness Program as nominated by the QRL Advisory Committee.

* The suspension of the appellant’s penalty (expulsion from game of rugby league for a period of 10 years) will only come into effect following the individual’s completion of the matters outlined and the date of August 7, 2024.

The ban and subsequent appeal comes after a TRL hearing last month where the man pleaded guilty to ‘conduct which is or is likely to bring the game into disrepute’, and ‘breaching any material terms of the NRL Code of Conduct’.

The incident took place during an A Grade TRL match on August 7 between Pittsworth and Gatton with the person, believed to be a Pittsworth Rugby League club official, caught on the audio of the video recording of the match telling “shut up you b — c—”.

QRL regional chair Danny McGuire said the overturn of the 10 year ban meant a chance for the offender to be rehabilitated.

“The appeal tribunal agreed in principal with the findings but left some room for the offender to be rehabilitated,” McGuire said.

“This decision was made after considering similar incidents in sport and the good record of the appellant over the past 10 years.

“The terms to return to the game have been strengthened to include further education for the appellant and once again reinforces the zero tolerance towards racial abuse and discrimination shown by the Toowoomba Rugby League.”