Great thread lads.

So in a week where the sport had a social media boycott in response to racial abuse, a player who is found guilty of racial abuse is handed the minimum punishment that the grade carries.

Travesty

Well, a few weeks ago, Bradford Bulls player George Flannigan was hit with a 10 game ban for a Grade F offense. So according to the RFL, a hit to the balls is worse than racist abuse.

Oh look he’s guilty surprise surprise!

8 games is shocking. Wigan should really sack him tbh.

I’m glad he was found guilty by an independent panel, rather than the pitchfork and flaming torch brigade, that sometimes shows up on these forums.

Judge says he's not a racist.

I can not believe the statement I’ve seen from the RFL.
Two things:
1. The assertion that someone who racially abused another player is in fact not a racist. This is almost a racist comment in itself, based on the belief that racist behaviour doesn’t make someone a racist. Defending racists in this way is horrendous from the RFL.
2. The justification of racism based on the argument of “simply that on this occasion he used unacceptable language in the heat of the moment.” This is the RFL making excuses for racism.

Sometimes it helps to read the room.

You do know the panel is independent and not the RFL right?

Wouldn’t you consider the statement to be the RFL’s, given it’s on their website and they’ve released it?

Did Clubb admit it? It’s not clear from the report.

well at the club. We do not find that he is a racist, simply that on this occasion he used unacceptable language in the heat of the moment.

Lol

I've never used racist or bigoted language in the heat of the moment as guess what I'm not a racist or a bigot.

Tony clubb may not be a member of the BNP but the fact still remains that for someone to use such language clearly feels that language is not offensive.

Wigan should have released Clubb for bringing the club into disrepute.

A Romanian once called me an 'English Pig' after I accidentally 'jumped the queue' in Asda, It was an accident, and I let him go back in front of me, Anyway, I was so upset after what he called me, how dare he.

The fact he has made no statement in nearly week says it all.

If I had been accused of that and I was innocent then I would have released something as soon as I could to try and clear my name.

If he is guilty and it looks that way, I'm more disappointed that he hasn't apologised publically than what he said, we all make mistakes, but it shows the type of person he is that he hasn't the guts to apologise for his actions.

Its not about guts, its about brains. The guy can barely lace up his own boots

I'm a bit torn about this, is calling someone a name prefixed by the country of their birth a racist slur. Is polynesian a race. Theoretically you could be a white, black or any other race but still polynesian. Similar to if you call someone an English, French person a slur prefixed with the nation of birth.

I actually find it weird he called him that in the heat of an argument and would have thought had he meant it as a racist slur he would've just used colour as a prefix. Not condoning it just trying to see the angle of it not having to come back to race or him being a racist.

I find it ironic that they mentioned his character with positive references, yet he didn't enter the field at the end of the game to shake hands, and has neither released a public apology or offered an apology to Andre Savelio.

Perhaps he'd been advised not to, as it might otherwise be taken as an admission of guilt - whereas nowadays it seems standard practice for people not to admit their wrongdoings but to wait until any evidence is provided / verdict reached

Furthermore, we have no idea whether there has been any private communication between the two players to resolve the issue.

Will the upstanding organisation that is Wigan Warriors now hold a "polynesian day" at their next home game against Hull FC when fans are allowed? You know, like the LGBT day they had planned for Folau?

If he’s not admitted it and been found guilty that goes against his good character.

What are you implying about him?