'Does not concern religion': Rugby Australia hits out over Israel Folau fundraising
Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle has hit back after Israel Folau's fundraising efforts were positioned as a fight for freedom of religion.
An Australian Christian Lobby campaign to raise funds to support Folau's legal stoush has been "paused" after donations topped $2 million.
More than 20,000 people had donated by Thursday morning.
Folau wanted to raise $3 million for his unfair dismissal case, which he believes amounts to discrimination on religious grounds.
He is seeking $10 million in damages from RA and wants his multimillion-dollar contract reinstated after it was pulled by the association.
RA took issue with a social media post by the committed Christian in April that was condemned as homophobic.
Folau had paraphrased a Bible passage saying "drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters" would go to hell unless they repented.
Former employers criticise fundraising efforts
However, Castle has once again declared the Wallabies superstar had his contract terminated as an 'employment matter'.
The RA chief executive reiterated he was not sacked simply because he shared religious messages.
"I want to make clear that Rugby Australia has acted with complete professionalism and integrity at all times through the process by which Israel was found, by an independent three-member tribunal panel, to have made multiple, serious breaches of the Professional Players Code of Conduct," Castle wrote in a statement released to rugby fans on Thursday.
"The panel found the breaches constituted a high level and directed Rugby Australia to terminate Israel’s contract.
"This is an employment matter and does not concern his religious beliefs or his ability to express them freely.
“If some of you follow Israel’s social accounts, you will have noticed he has posted religious material freely and openly over the last few years.
"The media attention it has garnered is obviously distracting as it means that we aren’t talking about, and celebrating, all the great things going on in our game."
Rugby Australia and Folau will head to the Fair Work Commission on Friday for initial discussions surrounding his unfair dismissal claim.
“I'm hopeful for an apology from them, and an admission that they were wrong,” Folau told Sky News on Thursday night.
“That would be something I'd like to get.”
Folau on Wednesday said he was humbled by the strength of the public support for his cause.
"To those who have criticised me, I bear no ill will towards you. You have every right to express your own beliefs and opinions," he posted on Instagram.
“To the thousands of you who donated to my GoFundMe campaign, I am forever grateful.
“GoFundMe’s decision to shut down my campaign proves the importance of my case; whether you share my faith or believe in my right to express it, attempts to sanction what we believe is a threat to all Australians.
“I am incredibly thankful for the Australian Christian Lobby, which has not only come to my defence in the media, but generously established a website to receive donations on my behalf.
“For those not in a position to donate, your support and prayers will make more of a difference than anything else. God bless!”
The ACL effort replaced an earlier campaign on GoFundMe that was taken down by the platform for breaching its service guidelines.
