You could call it a try against his side. In a press release shared on its social networks on Monday, the rugby league club of Manly in Sidney, the Sea Eagles, presented the special kit that the professional team will wear during the next match, scheduled for this Thursday: to the classic purple jersey come s add some rainbow stripes. This t-shirt “that will wear proudly” the Sea Eagles aims to “celebrate inclusivity”, explained just as proudly the director of Dynasty Sport, the brand that sponsors the team’s jerseys. This is “a fantastic achievement and we are happy to be able to share such an important message which means so much to so many people in the community”boasted for his part the CEO of the club.
So far, so good. The operation, if it does not claim to solve the problem of homophobia in the world, has the merit of advocating tolerance and self-acceptance in a sport where exacerbated virility and machismo are much more common than coming out of gay players. The jersey even looks rather popular, with the club quickly running out of stock in all sizes, both men’s and women’s. But a few hours after the presentation, local media say that the new outfit is not unanimous in the locker room. Far from it: at least seven players would refuse to wear it and would prefer to stay in the stands. At the risk of heavily penalizing their team as the looming meeting is decisive for the rest of the club’s season.
The reasons given by these players? The jersey goes against “their cultural and religious beliefs” – to understand by this that it is impossible for them to tolerate that two people of the same sex love each other, and even less that they can have a sexual relationship. Ordinary homophobia and a good proof of intolerance that immediately provoke an outcry. “Manly players are boycotting the jersey for ‘religious beliefs’. They don’t mind playing on Sundays, having the logo of a gambling company on their shirts or sponsoring a company that sells alcohol. I imagine that the seven also keep their virginity while waiting for their marriage”quipped a fan on Twitter.
“My heart is broken”
For Ian Roberts, the first player, now retired, to have spoken publicly about his homosexuality, the players’ decision is “sad and uncomfortable”. “I wish I could sit around a table with these playersdeclares on Australian television the one who had participated in the development of these jerseys. For young people or people who are constantly confronted with their sexual orientation, (this boycott) could have quite catastrophic consequences. Twenty-seven years after his coming out, he remains the only player in the Australian championship to have revealed his homosexuality in broad daylight.
Among the most relayed reactions, the editorial of Pam Whaley, journalist for the site Code Sports. “What infuriates me is that players who boycott a rainbow will never boycott a teammate if they have been accused of violence against women or any other morally wrong behavior that they would all blame. ‘agree not to tolerate’she denounces, pointing out that several players on the team have been accused of violence against women without any of their teammates ever being moved publicly.
“My heart is brokenshe continues, for all gay fans in the Manly district or rugby players wondering if they will be accepted by their teammates if they come out. Would they be boycotted by players who hold discriminatory and sectarian beliefs? The message sent by this group of Manly gamers is simple: tolerate violence, misogynism, alcoholism and gambling. But don’t be gay.” An argument taken up on the club’s Wikipedia page, which displayed for several hours from the first lines: “The team colors are brown and white (as well as all the colors of the rainbow, except for the seven players who have decided that if gambling, sex before marriage and alcohol were acceptable in their religion, support for the marginalized LGBTQIA+ community was not).
For the coach, the fault comes from the club, not the players
Summoned to respond to the outcry, coach Desmond Hasler appeared on Tuesday in front of the press. For him, the problem is not the homophobia of his players, but “significant error” of the club for not having consulted them or “included in discussions” before presenting his jerseys. Although he recognizes that this imbroglio around the team’s uniform has “caused significant confusion, embarrassment and pain for many people”he does not want his workforce: “The players will not play on Thursday, and we accept this decision […]. I worry about their well-being.” The league, for its part, has so far remained very silent.
As the BBC reminds us, this is far from the first time that Australian sport has been singled out for its lack of tolerance towards LGBT +. In January, footballer Haneen Zreika also refused to take part in a match for not having to wear a rainbow jersey, again for religious beliefs. Footballer Josh Cavallo, who came out at the end of 2021, has since been the victim of homophobic insults very regularly in stadiums. Finally, the most publicized example in Australia is probably that of Israel Folau, who was no longer selected for the national rugby team after posting anti-gay messages on social networks.
Closer to home, PSG midfielder Idrissa Gueye had refused to play a Ligue 1 match in mid-May “for personal reasons”. These “personal reasons”? Still and always. the refusal to wear the rainbow tunic of his club as part of the day against homophobia.