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Roberts speaks out on Izzy's imaginary overlords rules.
https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2019...g-themselves-ian-roberts/11081230?pfmredir=sm
Rugby league great and groundbreaking gay sportsman Ian Roberts has spoken out over the Israel Folau controversy, sending an emotional message to the Wallabies and Waratahs fullback over his social media posts.
As Folau's rugby union future was being debated in a code of conduct appeal hearing with Rugby Australia (RA) in Sydney, Roberts was asked about the furore over Folau's social media posts about homosexuals.
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"I don't say this lightly what I'm about to say — the language I use is hard and it's for a point, it's to get that message across.
"There are literally [gay] kids in the suburbs killing themselves.
"I say that with the greatest sense of respect, and I'm not implying that Israel's responsible solely for that, please don't take it that way.
"But it's these types of comments and these off-the-cuff remarks, when you have young people and vulnerable people, kids in the suburbs, who are dealing with their sexuality.
"[They're] confused, not knowing how to deal with it, these type of remarks ... can and do push [kids and] people over the edge."
Roberts played a total of 194 NRL games for South Sydney, Manly and the North Queensland Cowboys, plus 13 games for the Wigan Warriors in England.
The forward also played nine State of Origin games for New South Wales, and 13 Tests for Australia.
He came out as gay in 1995, becoming the first elite rugby league player in the world to do so, before retiring in 1998.
PHOTO Israel Folau's rugby union future will be decided following a Code of Conduct hearing that is being held in Sydney.
AAP: PAUL BRAVEN
Folau, who has played 73 Tests for the Wallabies, fronted a three-person tribunal on Saturday and Sunday comprising chair John West, RA representative Kate Eastman and the Rugby Union Players' Association (RUPA)-appointed John Boultbee.
The 30-year-old was stood down by RA last month in the wake of his Instagram posts proclaiming hell awaits "drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters".
He was then issued with a code of conduct breach notice recommending his four-year contract worth a $4 million be terminated, which he decided to challenge.
RA signalled its intention to tear up Folau's contract — he appealed the decision, and the hearing has been running this weekend.
Folau and others gave evidence on Saturday. No decision is expected today, with the panel expected to adjourn and consider its ruling on the landmark case.
As debate continued around Folau's future, French sporting magazine L'Equipe has released a special edition, which features two male water polo players kissing on its cover.
The issue focuses on homophobia in sport and under the large image has a prominent title saying: "Kiss whomever you like".
https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2019...g-themselves-ian-roberts/11081230?pfmredir=sm
Rugby league great and groundbreaking gay sportsman Ian Roberts has spoken out over the Israel Folau controversy, sending an emotional message to the Wallabies and Waratahs fullback over his social media posts.
As Folau's rugby union future was being debated in a code of conduct appeal hearing with Rugby Australia (RA) in Sydney, Roberts was asked about the furore over Folau's social media posts about homosexuals.
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"I don't say this lightly what I'm about to say — the language I use is hard and it's for a point, it's to get that message across.
"There are literally [gay] kids in the suburbs killing themselves.
"I say that with the greatest sense of respect, and I'm not implying that Israel's responsible solely for that, please don't take it that way.
"But it's these types of comments and these off-the-cuff remarks, when you have young people and vulnerable people, kids in the suburbs, who are dealing with their sexuality.
"[They're] confused, not knowing how to deal with it, these type of remarks ... can and do push [kids and] people over the edge."
Roberts played a total of 194 NRL games for South Sydney, Manly and the North Queensland Cowboys, plus 13 games for the Wigan Warriors in England.
The forward also played nine State of Origin games for New South Wales, and 13 Tests for Australia.
He came out as gay in 1995, becoming the first elite rugby league player in the world to do so, before retiring in 1998.
PHOTO Israel Folau's rugby union future will be decided following a Code of Conduct hearing that is being held in Sydney.
AAP: PAUL BRAVEN
Folau, who has played 73 Tests for the Wallabies, fronted a three-person tribunal on Saturday and Sunday comprising chair John West, RA representative Kate Eastman and the Rugby Union Players' Association (RUPA)-appointed John Boultbee.
The 30-year-old was stood down by RA last month in the wake of his Instagram posts proclaiming hell awaits "drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters".
He was then issued with a code of conduct breach notice recommending his four-year contract worth a $4 million be terminated, which he decided to challenge.
RA signalled its intention to tear up Folau's contract — he appealed the decision, and the hearing has been running this weekend.
Folau and others gave evidence on Saturday. No decision is expected today, with the panel expected to adjourn and consider its ruling on the landmark case.
As debate continued around Folau's future, French sporting magazine L'Equipe has released a special edition, which features two male water polo players kissing on its cover.
The issue focuses on homophobia in sport and under the large image has a prominent title saying: "Kiss whomever you like".
