He is not charged again, that is the point. Do you really not see the difference?

Trial by internet in general and twitter in particular is one of the more odious facets of having the internet in general and twitter in particular. I don't suppose it's going anywhere though.

It isn't as if people are new to making foolish pre-judgements, it's just that now they get to do it in public and harangue the accused with them as well. From the safety of their keyboard and without any recourse. If I was famous, I'd stay well and truly off twitter, or at least hide myself better so only my friends could find me.

As I said much earlier on this ridiculously long thread, I will let others better placed judge the guy's guilt or innocence (meaning people who actually heard it, not the army of people who are suddenly expert lip readers).

It is at least pleasing in the era of presumed guilt on the internet that his new friends at the Canalsiders have offered their support to him. I don't have the impression that they think he's a homophobe. His alleged victim doesn't seem too upset about it.

If he's genuinely guilty then I would have very little sympathy, but I have to wonder where the complaints the RFL is investigating have come from.

Sorry, do you have some reason to suppose that this particular Hull fan has been in some way involved with an offence, televised or otherwise?

Or am I responsible for the actions of all Leeds fans as well? I'd like not to be, if it's all the same to you.

He must have a big brush and a lot of tar

Its less trial by social media than reporting via social media. The issue is being looked at as aresult of twitter etc, but the trial should only deal with the facts.

Also, in a time where we slate the RFL for being out of touch and not knowing what theyre doing its good to see them listening to the fans, lets hope they do it for more than just some alleged abuse which occurred on the field

I don't often go on other clubs forums because I don't want to get drawn in to silly tribal stuff and I don't know what your opinion is either,but you know as well as anyone that should Hardaker become available for whatever reason Warrington would be at the front trying to sign him

I agree to a point, although if it wasn't reported by a match official or a player then it brings up a dodgy precedent for the RFL.

It almost means they're going to have to go through every minute of every TV game and re-officiate the game to a degree. They're going to have to lip read every player seen to be speaking and any offence missed by the officials will have to be investigated. Because whilst language that Hardaker has been found to use in the past (v Warrington) is a step above swearing, foul and abusive language is also against the rules in RL. So anyone found to swear on an RL pitch needs to be disciplined. And that would surely extend to club officials too. I can recall seeing Shaun Wane appear to swear during a game.

That in turn brings a dilemma for clubs. Does a club actually want to be shown on live TV?

www.therhinos.co.uk/news/23751.php#.VAcfI6NZiKU Lip readers and Gal !

www.therhinos.co.uk/news/23751.php#.VAcfI6NZiKU Lip readers and Gal !

Quite right to highlight the incompetent decision by the RFL to highlight to the press that this was being investigated, which will look even more negligent if/when there proves to be no case to answer. Time and again, I've seen primary school kids with more idea of media management than that shower.

I agree 100%. As I've said didn't Bateman blow JP a kiss and give him plenty of verbal this season? Swearing is picked up on the ref mike constantly, if that is deemed derogatory to anyone then sanctions should be taken, sexism and other prejudices are just as serious as homophobia. Any C-bomb T-bomb F-bomb should see 5 to 8 game bans, what about all the children born out of wedlock, should they be persicuted. Or are the RFL ok with offending women and children but not gay people.

Excellent response from GH and it's the referee and the RFL who have as much explaining to do as Zak.

So nothing reported to the match commissioner by the Ref post match I'd say that pretty much proves this has come as an "after thought" due to the faux outcry online and elsewhere!

If these goes any further can see Leeds going to high court. And can see a vote if no confidence in RFL or a breakaway. It's that serious. The fact that the club has used the words witch hunt says it all.

24 hours is far too long. That should have being issued yesterday. However, a very good a clear response from the club.

I do hope, with all this information to hand, that IF nothing is proven, that Silverwood is himself the subject of an investigation. There does appear, as it has happened too many times now, an issue with Silverwood and Leeds Rhinos.

Good to see the club responding and getting behind Zak www.therhinos.co.uk/m/news/23751.php Integrity issues for silverwood. No report of any comments post match then suddenly puts them in. Also again if he heard something you have to question why it wasn't delt with at the time

Good to see the club responding and getting behind Zak www.therhinos.co.uk/m/news/23751.php Integrity issues for silverwood. No report of any comments post match then suddenly puts them in. Also again if he heard something you have to question why it wasn't delt with at the time

I would have personally liked to see a statement issued sooner. But with such a strong statement issued I can understand the delay this must have gone through a lot of legal channels

I would imagine quite a lot of legal advice has been sought. I also find it unlikely that people weren't talking to Hardaker outside what was being published, so he will have been aware of the delay.

I think the RFL has got itself in a bit of a mess with this, and regardless of what the outcome of any investigation is, there are very clearly a lot of processes in urgent need of an overhaul.

Same thing happened last time. James Child took no action at all on the field yet come the guilty verdict apparently he heard it and felt it was aimed at him. This was the same weekend a HKR player was sent off by a referee who thought he swore at him, yet Child did nothing. In that HKR incident the word of the ref was enough and player banned on the Tuesday as normal.....yet the Hardaker incident wasn't settled until the following Wednesday. Why in that other case was the referee's report enough for a straight forward decision yet it took a week longer for the Hardaker verdict even though both refs allegedly heard their accused.

Again if Silverwood has truly heard him then why wasn't it dealt with and him charged on Monday and banned on Tuesday? The HKR player (Weyman I believe) followed that timeline......no reason for this not to be the same.

I found it fishy then that the ref took no on-field action and find it fishy again.

And a getting a lip reader in? Seriously? Does lip reading really hold any legal weight?

The RFL seem to have put themselves in a very tight situation which makes me think that either they are chancing their arm and will try to wriggle out of this or they have some concrete evidence that they have yet to disclose.

Either way they're not going to come out of this whole episode looking anything but petty or corrupt.

Surely they're tripping over their own feet.

I mean riddle me this....

IF the referee says he heard it, then why is a lip reader needed at all?

FB I honestly don't buy this "corrupt" stuff simply because there are too many idiots not fit for purpose involved at Red Hall to even attempt to be "Corrupt"!
For years many of their structures & procedures have been questioned especially around their officials & Disciplinary structures and routines.
I do however think they are inept and whatever the outcome I'd like to see a full review of their operation from top to bottom in the off season.

Have to agree with you there mate, the RFL seem to come under constant criticism from all sectors of the game yet they never seem to improve. Top to bottom shake down seems to be the only solution, either that or the top 6 teams break away (which would in turn force the rest of the league to follow suit).

Thought it was the the RFL disciplinary not a legal case.

As for the lip reading well it got Suarez banned so it is used. If he did it then he needs to be banned again.

Leeds Rhinos highlighting the obvious holes and generally throwing question marks everywhere.

Over to you RFL.

Well played Gary.

RFL will be $hitting it! the press officer needs sacking.