Perth Wildcats Corey Webster sanctioned by Basketball Australia over online post about LGBTQI+ community

Corey Webster was stood down by the Wildcats, now Basketball Australia has announced its own sanction for his offensive online post aimed at the LGBTQI+ community.

Basketball Australia has slapped Perth Wildcats guard Corey Webster with a two-game sanction for breaching the sport’s code of conduct with his offensive tweet aimed at the LGBTQI+ community.

The NBL have also acknowledged, and accepted, BA’s decision to impose a sanction on Webster.

Basketball Australia’s integrity unit found the Wildcats guard breached the Code of Conduct for Elite-Level Participants pertaining to discrimination and vilification following a comment he made on social media.

The two-game sanction, which was accepted by Webster, includes one game already served on September 19, with the second game suspended.

Any future breach by Webster will result in an automatic one-game ban, in addition to any new sanctions.

In reaching its decision, BA noted the remorse shown by Webster, and his commitment to undertake diversity and inclusion training, as well as a donation to charitable organisations.

Perth has stood down star guard Corey Webster over an online post. Picture: Getty Images

In January, 2023, the Basketball Australia Integrity Framework was updated to include the Code of Conduct for Elite Level Participants.

This code is governed and operated by the Basketball Australia Integrity Unit and supported by the NBL.

It comes just days after the Wildcats had a change of heart and stood down Webster for Tuesday’s pre-season clash against the Adelaide 36ers.

The Wildcats released a statement saying the club opted to act following further consultation with Webster.

It was mutually agreed the guard would sit out the game against a 36ers side featuring the NBL’s only openly gay player, Isaac Humphries.

On Monday, Webster apologised while his offensive tweet was condemned by the Wildcats, the NBL and the wider community.

This prompted Perth to take stronger action and stand down their star guard for Tuesday’s NBL Blitz clash against Adelaide.

“Both parties have agreed that upon further reflection the decision is appropriate,” Perth’s statement said.

“Webster wishes to apologise once again, understanding the ramifications of his actions and the potential harm such comments can cause.

“Having expressed sincere disappointment in his comments, the club will continue to use this incident as a learning experience for the wider playing group and staff to further educate on inclusiveness, which is one of the core values of what we stand for as an organisation.”

Corey Webster deleted the reply on X.

Webster, on Sunday, posted, then later deleted, the words “mental illness” under an image of a rainbow flag that was accompanied by the question ‘What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you see this flag?’.

The 34-year-old, on Monday morning, posted in all capitals: “PROTECT THE CHILDREN” before locking down his X account.

Webster pleaded for forgiveness over an online post that disparaged the LGBTQI+ Rainbow Pride flag and caused community outrage.

“While it certainly wasn’t my intent, I understand the hurt my comments have caused and I am sincerely sorry for this,” Webster said in a statement released by the Wildcats on Monday afternoon.

“It wasn’t how I intended my comments to be perceived and I will take a break from social media and use that time to better educate myself on the impact comments such as this can make on individuals I may have offended.”

Originally published as Perth Wildcats Corey Webster sanctioned by Basketball Australia over online post about LGBTQI+ community