Players' association condemns NRL over suspension of Brett Stewart
From: AAP March 11, 2009 12:00AM
THE Rugby League Players' Association has condemned the NRL's move to stand down Manly star Brett Stewart from playing football until round five.
Stewart was on Tuesday charged with the sexual assault of a 17-year-old female at North Manly following a boozy club season launch.
The NRL today announced they had banned Stewart from playing rugby league until round five, after his assault charge is heard in court on April 7.
The RLPA supports Stewart's right to continue playing football while his criminal proceedings are going through the courts.
"The Rugby League Players Association's position has always been to support the rights of its members and as a general rule, a player should not be stood down from playing and fulfilling his contractual commitments to his club because he has been charged with a criminal offence particularly where the player has indicated that he will defend the charge," RLPA managing director Matt Rodwell in a statement.
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"A player like any other person in the community is entitled to the presumption of innocence, the basis of the judicial system in Australia."
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/rlpa-condemns-stewart-suspension/story-e6frg7mo-1111119098681