The possibility of the NRL holding a ‘Pride Round’ has hit a huge brick wall, but commission chairman Peter V’Landys has suggested an alternative concept could be on the cards.
V’Landys has revealed that the NRL is now considering a ‘Respect Round’, but that revelation has been slammed by fans who believe respect should be a simple weekly feature for every game.
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The Pride Round controversy reached a flashpoint last year when the Manly Sea Eagles saw seven of their players sit out a game rather than wear a Pride guernsey.
Their head coach Des Hasler had his role terminated following the saga, and debate on an NRL Pride Round has never been laid to rest.
V’landys spoke to News Corp on Tuesday, dismissing the idea of a dedicated Pride Round.
“We were always going to look at a Respect Round,” V’landys revealed.
“What a Respect Round is, is that it respects everyone’s views. We might not agree with them, but we respect them.
“So if we were going to do anything we were going to do a Respect Round. It wasn’t going to be a Pride Round because then you alienate other people.
“We pride ourselves on being an inclusive game. To be an inclusive game you have to respect everyone’s view.”
Social media exploded after the chairman’s comments.
One Twitter user said: “Maybe call it the ‘I don’t like the pride round, round.” Another one said: “Holy s***! This ‘Respect Round’ message is diabolical…”
A fanpage dedicated to Rugby League tweeted: “Where to start. A ‘Pride Round’ means nothing if the organisations behind the Round don’t align with the purpose behind it. I feel like at this stage, a ‘Pride Round’ would be almost performative in the NRL. But this … this is something else. I’ll be missing this one.”
Another Twitter user wrote: “Respect round should be every round…But it’s not and that’s why we need a pride round.”
“We can’t do a pride round because that alienates people, but we can do a respect round where we have to respect other people’s views that alienate people. Makes sense,” another user said.
Another social media user passionately wrote: “It is not apples for apples. LGBTQIA+ are asking not JUST to be respected, but to NOT be attacked & made fearful because of their identity. Whereas those asking for their religious views to be respected, are not being attacked or criticised or made to fear for their safety because of their identity- they are being criticised for their bullying & abusive behaviour, based on their beliefs, which are a choice.”
The NRL is not the only league caught up in a Pride controversy, with the NBL having to put out their own spotfires last week.
The Cairns Taipans rocked the NBL’s inaugural Pride Round, citing “abuse and harmful commentary” directed at some players as the reason for pulling out of plans to wear themed uniforms for the occasion.
The NBL was supportive of Cairns’ decision, declaring it would not force players or teams to wear Pride Round jerseys.
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