Parramatta star Kieran Foran is set to launch legal action after the details of an alleged $75,000 betting splurge from his TAB account were leaked to a Sydney newspaper.
The Rugby League Players Association slammed the Daily Telegraph story which reported a large sum of money was lost on bets on greyhounds and South African gallops made from his TAB account.
The bets were made just hours after Foran was released from a Queensland rehabilitation facility after taking leave for mental health issues.
“We have been in contact today with Kieran, the club’s welfare manager and the NRL who all share our disappointment in the story and concern regarding the potential for it to impact on Kieran’s mental health,” the RLPA said in a statement.
“We have been informed there are factual inaccuracies in the story and we understand these matters, together with any breaches of privacy and confidentiality, are being pursued legally by Kieran’s management, SFX Sports.
“It is disturbing that a story of this nature has been published by News Limited when it is public knowledge that Kieran is currently dealing with complex personal matters.
“Players are people first, and we do not believe it is unreasonable to expect compassion and empathy for individuals in situations such as this.”
According to the report, it is unclear who placed the bets.
Foran took personal leave after the breakdown of his relationship with his long-term partner Rebecca Pope and he overdosed on prescription painkillers.
After returning to training on Friday, he is expected to line up against Melbourne on Monday night.
In a statement obtained by The Nine Network, a TAB spokesperson said: “TAB takes the protection of customer information extremely seriously … it is inappropriate to comment on anything relating to individual customers.
Who is Foran going to sue next? The greyhounds & horses for losing the races? Maybe the owners of the greyhounds & horses or maybe even the breeders. Firstly Manly for TPA payment, Jackie O for defamation?………..starting to get sick of this guy! He’s brought all this upon himself. So many people out there are in the same boat but we don’t hear about them. No one has sympathy for them but oh wait it’s Kieran Foran so let’s all cry!
