Is Woman a slur which has been used to persecute a group of people?

N.igger, Faggot, Paki, Tranny, Woman. One of these words is different, one of these words is not the same.

Well assuming the complaint wasn't raised by the ref (as surely he'd have sent him off if he did) then I take it's from some person/people who watched that clip.

Now not condoning the words used but call me cynical but I highly doubt those that complained are really bothered/disgusted by the language at all, they just want to see a rival team's star player get hit with a ban.

Whilst I do not agree with abusive language, are we not taking this all a bit too far, its a mans game, played in an industrial environment by working class men, who may or may not be homophobic.

We are in an age, when you cannot say anything without offending somebody.

Live and let live, and move on, we cannot be all things to all men !!! or women !!! or dogs !!!

you can say almost anything you want without offending someone. You just can't say something offensive without offending someone.

Lets not pretend there is any excuse or mitigation in what Hardaker is alleged to have said. You wouldnt get away with it at work, nor would i and rightly so.

He may not have even heard it. On the Ask the Ref Twitter Q&A that does the rounds on a Tuesday one ref was asked about insults and he said they rarely hear anything. But that isn't the point. The point is whether he called the ref an effing fag, not whether the ref heard it or was happy about it.

Is there any clear proof of what has been allegedly said ??

If the ref didnt hear anything...was anything actually said ??

A bit like the tree faling in the forest if no one was around to hear it did it make a noise. ???

The only real concrete proof would be if it was picked up on Childs' microphone, any other 'proof' is somewhat subjective.

If the RFL do find against Hardaker then as far as I can see that's the material damage required for a more lucrative case of libel against those who brought accusations that, if they got to court, would be laughed out of it in an instant. In which case Odem and a few others from the Virtual Terrace ought to be checking their pockets.

is there any point discussing it as he plays for leeds and will get off with a warning and the obligatory £300 fine

Course I needs talking about! For the keyboard warriors its like a T-bone steak to a pitbull. If Zak has done it then he needs to be dealt with. But the BS reaction of the usual suspects has little to do with the real issues. It pretty obvious what the motivation is.

Yes. Unless you think sexism doesn't exist and hasn't in the past.

My point is not about the actual word, my point is why would sexist language be acceptable if homophobic isn't. If we think use of the word "woman" to belittle/take the mick out of someone for being soft is acceptable why aren't other words that are used for the same reason?

There's an awful lot of foul and abusive language used on the pitch, especially in tight games with incidents. I've heard plenty and been told about plenty of such language from players.

If we (as a sport) are going to punish Hardaker then we also have to punish every incident of what could be described as "discriminatory" language and at the moment that isn't happening.
For instance, James Graham was regularly insulted for being ginger (by opposition players).
Sean Long was called a . Etc
I'm sure there's plenty of other examples, including some I know were heard by match officials.

They haven't been punished.
If we are cleaning up the language on the pitch then fine, I think we'll struggle a bit to enforce it entirely but as long as it's a consistent approach then great.

Not with you, no!



If there's a case to answer then let the RFL investigate it and we should accept whatever punishment they deem fit. The opinions of mentalists from other clubs with a history of vile postings about our players are irrelevant.

Well, it's now made national news. Just been mentioned on BBC's TV breakfast programme.

The pressure will be on the RFL to issue a serious punishment now

Has he been found quilty yet ???

It's a realistic assessment of the 1.5% as claimed by
[url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/reality-check/2013/oct/03/gay-britain-what-do-statistics-sayOffice of National Statistics[/url

One. Point. Five. Percent. A very noisy 1.5% I'll grant you, aided and abetted in their publicity by those strange individuals who seem a tad overly eager to take offence on behalf everyone.

Tell me Codhead, as a Hull lad, would you really have a hissy fit at being called a faggot, or a Pom, or a Limey etc etc, or would you simply respond with a derogatory comment of your own?

So far all these allegations are unproven - can we at least wait until Zak admits that he has said something wrong or there is concrete evidence to prove so before we hang the lad.

Whatever happened to innocent until [size=150proven [/sizeguilty?

I saw it on BBC news in gym this morning.

Nice to see BBC jumping in on a potential none story.

Hmmm. A shame the BBC often can't be bothered to even report the results of games but are happy to report this.

Leeds fans trying to tell themselves he didn't do anything, he plays for my Leeds. He's a good boy.

Rather than saying he didn't do anything, I would say he didn't do anything that most players do not do in all games, including televised ones.

People and the RFL really need to get a grip here.

John Terry knows a good lawyer?

This is the 21st century, move on from wherever you are.

Quote ="chris-hfc"This is the 21st century, move on from wherever you are.'" Troll I refer you to this, m.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league ... zr50w.html Where was your outrage then?

Quote ="chris-hfc"This is the 21st century, move on from wherever you are.'" Troll I refer you to this, m.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league ... zr50w.html Where was your outrage then?

Obviously this is true - I can tell because of your exhaustively referenced list of examples.

Would that make it better? If anything it means the RFL's action should be swifter. Rugby League likes to sell itself as a family sport... so I guess its time to put that to the test.

What exactly are you arguing he did? that would make more sense to understand why the frothing at the mouth.

Assuming the words that were said is what is being made out, he called a player who had just got away with an offence, a f****** fagg***. If that player he called it to was actually homosexual and was open about it, then I can kind of see a bit of a point of yours. But if not, and likely not, what exactly is there to get so upset at?

Players will always use words, insulting to the politically correct amongst us, as a way of releasing their frustrations in the heat of the moment. As long as those words are not specific to the one individual then what is exactly the problem?

Lad working at my place who is openly homosexual, said yesterday in response to this issue, "I would guess it would be more hurtful if you wasn't gay, than if you were gay. At least if they are so sensitive about it". He is exactly right.