Ian Roberts: NRL should have acted quicker over homophobic slur
Ian Roberts, the first openly gay rugby league player, said the most disappointing thing about the latest homophobic slur made over the weekend was the amount of time it took for the NRL, New Zealand Warriors and North Queensland Cowboys to officially condemn the “f—-t” comment.
Roberts said while the A-League and Melbourne Victory were quick to declare their condemnation of homophobic abuse directed at openly gay Adelaide player Josh Cavallo earlier this year, the NRL, Warriors and Cowboys did not make an official response for almost two days.
Marcelo Montoya was charged with contrary conduct and his matter was referred straight to the NRL judiciary after he was identified as the Warriors players who called Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt a “f—-t”.
The matter was only investigated by the NRL late Friday after fans started to circulate the comments on social media.
The NRL and Warriors limited their public commentary until all available camera angles were flown back from Redcliffe to the NRL’s Sydney headquarters.
Ian Roberts was disappointed with the NRL, Warriors and Cowboys for taking their time to condemn the latest homophobic slur.Credit:Wolter Peeters
“I’m obviously disappointed about the incident, it’s saddening, I understand things are said in the heat of the moment, but there needed to be a quicker response from the clubs and the NRL,” Roberts told the Herald on Monday.
“To leave it for two days … what was said was very audible over the telecast.
“I don’t care if someone calls me “f—-t”’, but I’ve said it so many times, there are people out in the suburbs and regional areas who are really struggling with their sexual identity, and those comments have consequences.
“What the soccer did with Josh Cavallo at the start of the year, the crowd attacked Josh with homophobic slurs, but they came out the next day and said they would not tolerate such behaviour.
“By doing so they embraced the LGBTIQA+ community. That’s what disappointed me with the league. Had they made statements straight away, that to me is embracing inclusion.
The Warriors prevailed in a Friday night thriller.Credit:Getty
“I work with the NRL, we do an inclusion program, and they’re great, but it’s times like this when things play out … sport has the power to bridge gaps in society.”
The NRL said it was unable to comment on the issue until the judiciary had dealt with it.
Roberts suggested the coverage be delayed slightly, which would allow TV networks to bleep any derogatory comments made during games.
Montoya and the Warriors were “extremely apologetic” on Sunday and acknowledged there was no place for “such behaviour in the game and in society in generally”. Montoya is expected to plead guilty at the judiciary.
When a player is referred straight to the judiciary, it generally means the charge is viewed worse than a grade three. Under the new judicial code, a grade-three contrary conduct charge carries a two-match suspension.
A guilty plea for Montoya will also entitle him to a one-match reduction, which used to be a 25 per cent discount under the old system.
The Herald understands there was no reference to the comments in the official referee’s report.
To be fair to Warriors chief executive Cameron George, he did tell the Herald on Saturday: “We don’t condone any commentary of that nature but, at the end of the day, it’s inconclusive for us at the moment, the footage that I’ve been provided.”
Mitchell Moses received a two-match ban for calling a Queensland rival a “f –king g– c–t” during an under-20s State of Origin game in 2014.
Roberts said the term “f—-t” was still sadly heard regularly by people in the gay community.
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