Rugby player sacked over religious post raises €146,804 in 12 hours for court battle

Australian former professional rugby player Israel Folau is seeking to raise 3 million Australian dollars (€1.8 million) to fund legal action against Rugby Australia and the New South Wales Waratahs for his sacking last month.

Folau’s contract with Rugby Australia was terminated last month after he posted on social media saying “hell awaits” gay people.

The organisation said he breached a code of conduct, but the 30-year-old star full-back argued that his firing was unlawful and an act of religious discrimination.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Those that are living in Sin will end up in Hell unless you repent. Jesus Christ loves you and is giving you time to turn away from your sin and come to him. _______________ Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these , adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19‭-‬21 KJV _______________ Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38 KJV _______________ And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Acts 17:30 KJV _______________

A post shared by Israel Folau (@izzyfolau) on Apr 10, 2019 at 1:18am PDT

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

The former player stood by his comments on social media, saying that sharing the Bible’s message “is an act of love and compassion.”

Within 12 hours of Folau’s GoFundMe page going live, over 240,000 Australian dollars (€146,804) was donated by 2,500 donors.

The former player claimed that Rugby Australia was committed to diverting “significant resources” to the court battle. He said it is likely that such a case could go to the High Court of Australia.

Folau added that legal expenses to fight his termination were costly, saying: “My wife Maria and I have already spent over $100,000 of our own money” fighting the internal tribunal processes.

While playing, Folau was one of the highest paid players in the country, with a contract worth 5 million Australian dollars (€3,058,537).