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Seven players in Australia\u2019s National Rugby League (NRL) will boycott a key match over their team\u2019s decision to wear a gay pride jersey.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles will become the first team in the competition ever to don a kit which promotes LGBT inclusivity in the sport.<\/p>\n
But players weren\u2019t consulted and some object to the move on religious and cultural grounds.<\/p>\n
The club apologised for its handling of the situation.<\/p>\n
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Coach Des Hasler said the club had made a \u201csignificant mistake\u201d that had caused \u201cconfusion, discomfort and pain for many people, in particular those groups whose human rights we were in fact attempting to support\u201d.<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:<\/strong><\/p>\n In a press conference on Tuesday, he apologised to the LGBT community and to the players involved.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were not included in any of the discussions, and at a minimum, they should have been consulted,\u201d Hasler said.<\/p>\n Under league rules, players from the same team cannot wear different jerseys.<\/p>\n Local media identified the seven players as Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau\u2019atu, Tolu Koula and Toafofoa Sipley.<\/p>\n Thursday\u2019s game is considered important to the club\u2019s chances of making the NRL finals and the players\u2019 stance has sparked a backlash online.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat infuriates me (and always has) is that players will boycott over a rainbow but never boycott a teammate if he\u2019s been accused of violence against women or any other morally reprehensible behaviour that they would all agree they don\u2019t condone,\u201d wrote Pam Whaley on Twitter.<\/p>\n Others accused the seven of hypocrisy, pointing out the team is sponsored by a brewery and betting agency.<\/p>\n Hasler said he respected the men\u2019s decisions and is concerned for their welfare amid the backlash.<\/p>\n Former Manly star Ian Roberts \u2013 the first-ever former NRL player to come out as gay \u2013 says the the boycott \u201cbreaks his heart\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s sad and uncomfortable,\u201d he told Sydney\u2019s Daily Telegraph.<\/p>\n In a column for the Sydney Morning Herald he implored the seven players to reconsider their position.<\/p>\n \u201cCan you not understand the pain visited upon gay people who, no matter what they do, are disrespected simply for being gay?\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised Manly for its stance, saying: \u201cIt\u2019s important in Australian society that we respect everyone for who they are.\u201d<\/p>\n It isn\u2019t the first time an Australian athlete has objected to wearing a pride jersey. Last year AFL Women\u2019s player Haneen Zreika missed a game after declining to don the jersey on religious grounds.<\/p>\n Few Australian sport stars have come out. Mr Roberts and others say homophobia remains a big issue among fans and players in the country\u2019s top competitions.<\/p>\n Adelaide United footballer Josh Cavallo \u2013 who came out in October \u2013 has called out the abuse directed at him by crowds over his sexuality.<\/p>\n In 2015 Israel Folau \u2013 who has played rugby league, rugby union and Australian Rules football at the highest levels \u2013 was controversially sacked by Rugby Australia for making anti-gay posts on social media.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n