Brisbane father of two Anthony Simpson has launched a petition through Change.org calling on the NRL to ban players who engage in violence against women. Every time the petition is signed an email will be sent to the league’s Chief Executive.
Launched less than 24 hours ago, the petition has already attracted almost 5000 signatures.
Anti-violence against women campaigner and assault survivor Kate Ravenscroft, published on the MTR blog before (‘I was so ignorant of the epidemic of violence against women until it happened to me: rape survivor tells; ‘100 years of International Women’s Day: let’s end the tyranny of sexual violence ), has urged anyone who cares about the violent treatment of too many women by so called sport ‘stars’ – and the way it is too often excused or glossed over by sporting institutions – to add their name to the campaign. Kate writes:
Please consider signing this petition to the NRL urging them to penalise violence against women by their players.
Sports in this country are amazingly powerful institutions and although not many of us may be NRL fans, through a petition like this we have a real opportunity to show a powerful organisation in Australian society that violence against women is never acceptable.
As ordinary Australians we do not condone or accept such behaviour and we do not want to see our sports players getting away with it. Let’s make that very clear to the NRL.
As the petition clearly shows violence against women is a very serious problem in Australia and until we make it undeniably clear that it is unacceptable behaviour, it will continue.
Our voice in a matter like this could really make a difference. Please sign and circulate to your friends, family and contacts.
Thank you,
Kate
“I was trying to cover myself, that’s when he kicked me in the head. I was curled up trying to cover myself” — Taleah Rae Backo, girlfriend of NRL player Robert Lui
It was a horrifying assault. While their six-month-old baby slept in the next room, NRL player Robert Lui dragged his girlfriend Taleah to a mattress by her hair, then headbutted and kicked her repeatedly.
It’s the second time this year that the NRL has failed to take serious action against players guilty of assaulting women. Just weeks ago, another player was found guilty of physically abusing and threatening to kill his 7-month-pregnant girlfriend.
I’m a born and bred Tigers supporter of over thirty years. I love the game, and I want my son to grow up a Wests Tigers fan, but I’m ashamed and sick of the weak response from the NRL to players bashing women. It’s not the culture and behaviour I expect of players who are held up as role models to kids.
I am calling upon the National Rugby League CEO, and the Wests Tigers and Cowboys clubs to implement a one season ban on players convicted of assaulting women. Every single player needs to know there are serious, career threatening consequences for assaulting a woman.
Please sign my petition, and share it with friends and family — it’s time the NRL takes meaningful action against domestic violence.
2 Responses
While I fully agree that it would be nice to see high profile sports associations stand down players who have been found guilty of Intimate Partner Violence it would be awfully easy to have this become a discrimination issue. Essentially these players are employed by the clubs or sporting associations. Like any other employee work and life should be allowed to be separate. We don’t call on other businesses to stand down employees who are found guilty of Intimate Partner Violence.
The other issue is that you may not be taking into account the victim’s wishes. Personally I would not want my abusive ex to lose his job. Living on Centrelink while studying and getting child support is hard enough as it is. If he went to prison or lost his job then I would lose that financial support and life would be impossible.
While I applaud the efforts of this petition, and understand completely the feelings behind it, I won’t support it. It is wrong to apply a different standard to some people just because of the job they do. If a person assaults a partner, regardless of how high profile their life is, then they should be treated the same as all the others.
Hi all
I concur with what Carz has said. While violence in a relationship is abhorrent, I don’t agree that should impact upon a person’s employment (unless that person works with their partner, then an AVO etc would be wise to have).