Roosters appear vindicated with 20-year ban on fan
Woy Woy Rugby League Football Club appears to have been vindicated with reports that NSW Rugby League has placed a 20-year ban on a fan who racially-abused Roosters captain-coach Andrew Fifita.
NSWRL chief executive Mr David Trodden said yesterday, July 7, the racial vilification received by True Blue and Woy Woy coach Andrew Fifita was disgusting.
"The NSWRL treats such matters very seriously which is reflected in the fact the person responsible has received a 20-year suspension.
"Justin Bayley was suspended from all facets of Rugby League for 20 years after last week being found guilty of code of conduct breaches including racial vilification against Fifita following a Rugby League Central Coast First Grade match between Woy Woy Roosters and Wyong Roos at Woy Woy Oval on Sunday, June 9."
Mr Trodden said: "I have had a number of private conversations with Andrew Fifita and they will remain private.
"Andrew is one of our valued True Blues and he knows where I stand on the matter."
The Roosters' committee described the incident as "the lowest in club history" and said it did not condone "that behaviour".
"We do however support Andrew and our players for sticking up for their rights," the committee said last Wednesday.
The committee claimed there was a "lack of acknowledgement from the governing bodies to address the issues at hand regarding the racial vilification Andrew copped, especially after the game that evening".
"Our issue is everyone has focused on the incident outside the ground and not why it happened and the online vitriol that Andrew has received which is quite disturbing."
In a public statement, the committee said: "We do apologise for any families or children who may have been caught up in the incident and for that we are particularly sorry.
"We don't believe any club in our competition is racist as, like us, they have many indigenous and players of Pacific Islander heritage at their club."
However, the committee claimed that "certain clubs" had colluded "to boycott playing us" without the opportunity for the Roosters "to defend ourselves".
"Where was our right to reply?
"Our club was sanctioned after the June 9 incident.
"We were not allowed to have spectators, canteen or bar.
"We copped the punishment as much as we didn't agree with it.
"We, as a club, just want to get back to playing footy, for our club, for our sponsors and supporters and our players families who are suffering also.
"We thank the Dora Creek club for backing their own judgment and playing us on the weekend and seeing that incident at our home ground for what it was, an isolated incident.
"We pride ourselves in welcoming the opposition clubs to our home ground.
"That will never change."
The committee said the "ugly and unfortunate incident" was outside the ground at the end of the day and was not alcohol-related.
Otherwise, the committee said, the day was run well by the club.
"The whole day was a success on and off the field.
"We celebrated Old Boys day.
"We have been in this competition for 95 years.
"We are a very proud footy club."
SOURCE:
Social media, 3 Jul 2024
Woy Woy Roosters RLFC