He recognizes it from the start. Marc Palanques would have "gone well with such a controversy". Since the announcement last week of the signing of the Australian Israel Folau at the Catalan Dragons club, located in Perpignan, the phone of the president of the French rugby union federation continues to ring. It must be said that the recruitment of this player, who arrived discreetly on French soil Sunday with his wife, does not leave insensitive. And causes some discomfort in the XIII.
In April 2019, the very controversial XV and XIII rugby star had made homophobic comments on his Instagram account: "Drunkards, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolaters, Hell awaits you. Repent! Only Jesus can save you ”… A text which had shocked beyond the world of sport and caused his dismissal by the Australian federation. He hasn't played since.
Words that Marc Palanques also condemns. "This is not the image I would like to see associated with rugby league," continues the president. The federation was one of the first to sign a charter against homophobia in sport. We are a very active federation against homophobia or doping. Last year, the Limoux club wanted to recruit José Lima (suspected doping player) but we refused to validate the license. But this time I am disarmed and I regret it. "
✍ @IzzyFolau
Israel Folau is a Dragon 🐲
🇫🇷 https://t.co/rKu4l0ZKFb
🇬🇧 https://t.co/k0KoKwlPSv#Dragons 🐉 pic.twitter.com/KJBOrHcwE7
The French rugby union federation cannot indeed intervene on the Dragons club which is a private structure and not an association. The Catalans play in the Super League, a private competition organized by the English Rugby Football League (RFL) and which brings together English teams and a Canadian franchise in addition to the Dragons.
"We do not agree with his opinions but everyone has the right to a second chance"
Arrived in Perpignan Sunday, Folau, devout Christian evangelical, will speak only through an interview that will post the club on Wednesday on its site. "We try to protect it as much as possible," says Yannick Rey, director of communications for the Dragons. We suspected that there would be reactions, a controversy and that some opponents would take the opportunity to make the buzz. "
The English club Wigan has thus announced that it will organize a “Proud Day” (day of pride), the day of the match against the Catalans in March 2020 and that its players will wear socks and rainbow laces at this opportunity. "The president of Wigan however explained that he would have liked to recruit Folau but that he could not for financial reasons", underlines Rey.
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Those that are living in Sin will end up in Hell unless you repent. Jesus Christ loves you and is giving you time to turn away from your sin and come to him. _______________ Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5: 19-21 KJV _______________ Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38 KJV _______________ And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Acts 17:30 KJV _______________
A post shared by Israel Folau (@izzyfolau) on Apr 10, 2019 at 1:18 am PDT
The Catalan club also stipulated in the contract that the player should not express his religious or political opinions under pain of dismissal. "We took him for his rugby skills not for anything else," insists Yannick Rey. Any slippage will be immediately penalized. We do not agree with his opinions but everyone has the right to a second chance, also under certain conditions. There are also people who are happy to see him in the field. »Case to follow.