Former Cowboy Emry Pere sent off in 10th minute of Queensland Cup clash for alleged homophobic slur
The captain of a team playing the Burleigh Bears has been sensationally marched after an alleged homophobic slur marred a Queensland Cup rugby league clash. Read what he said
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A Queensland Cup clash between the Western Clydesdales and Burleigh Bears was marred by an alleged homophobic slur on Saturday night.
Former North Queensland Cowboy and Clydesdales captain Emry Pere was sent off in the 10th minute of the round 16 clash at Father Ranger Oval in Warwick.
“The words that I heard that you said, unacceptable and cannot be used on a football field,” the referee could be heard saying on the stream of the match.
“Emry, you’re gone. It’s a homophobic slur Emry and you cannot say that on a football field.”
Pere could be heard saying “f---ing f----ot” over the ref’s mic in the lead-up to his send-off.
Western Clydesdales CEO Shane Sullivan spoke of Pere’s remorse following the incident.
“He’s very remorseful and he feels like he’s let every person in the world down,” Sullivan said.
“We are very supportive of Emry and it was a very out of character mistake that he’s made, the situation was one that he’s very regretful of and he was inconsolable in the changerooms after.
“He knows it’s an error from his part and he certainly didn’t mean it, there was a lot of banter between his ex-teammates and himself and he got pushed over and it slipped out.
“We’re very supportive and very proud to have Emry as our captain and we know this is not his usual self, he’ll certainly be better for having gone through this.”
Pere had played for the opposing Burleigh last season before crossing to the Clydesdales in 2024.
The Bears would go on to win the game 56-18 as it put nine tries past the Clydesdales.
Pere played two NRL games for the Cowboys and made his NRL debut in round 13, 2020, against the Gold Coast Titans.
He also represented the Maori All Stars in 2021, and is a former Keebra Park and The Southport School student, having spent time on the Gold Coast growing up.
Pere has 94 Queensland Cup appearances under his belt, having also played for the Northern Pride, Mackay Cutters, and Townsville Blackhawks.
Queensland Rugby League said that as per any incident it will be reviewed by the match review committee on Monday, and could be referred straight to the judiciary.
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Originally published as Former Cowboy Emry Pere sent off in 10th minute of Queensland Cup clash for alleged homophobic slur
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