How hard is it to understand that the offence Hardaker has been suspended for is the use of homophobic language, rather than being homophobic?

The sexuality of all those involved is a complete irrelevance. The language used was a slur based on someone's sexual preference, which is no more welcome in the game than slurs based on race IMO.

So there's two subjects in RL that you can't say on TV?

IMO Hardaker's offence was a penalty offence, with a warning from the referee that any repetition would result in a straight red.

But TBH that is pretty much just the same as any sledging. If the ref hears a threat of a punch in the next tackle, the same penalty should be awarded. Same with virtually any sledging.

Racial abuse, because of the racial abuse suffered in this country over the last few decades would rightfully earn an instant straight red and a ban. The reasoning for the difference is because of the history of sport. I just don't see why homophobic abuse is deserving of similar punishment.

Just what is acceptable and unacceptable sledging?

That's if you take what Zak said at face value, rather than just looking at it as general sledging. I'm sure another dozen words could have fallen out of his mouth. Possibly slating someone's mum, obvious swear words, and obvious slang words for genitalia and sex acts.

Nothing new here, just caught on a mic.

So there has been no homophobic abuse in this country? Really?

And we're going in circles again. That is precisely the context in which it is being viewed.

And things being caught on mic is an occupational hazard when your job is televised and beamed live to thousands of people. This makes it different to saying something to a handful of your mates who you know won't be offended. We can debate the rights an wrongs of that, but if you work in the presence of live broadcast cameras and mic's then you have to treat what you say as being to the general public.

Far too sensitive for me.

I remember in early Super League, Lee Penny, was funnily caught on a camera a few times clearly saying 'f*** off' to someone in front of him. Did he tell the watching 'general public' to f*** off? Obviously not.

firstly. Gay people have had some pretty bad abuse over the last few decades. Im not sure what you mean about the history of sport which means homophobic abuse ISNT deserving of a similar punishment.

Secondly, its pretty clear and simple, no abuse based on race, gender, sexual preference, religion, national or ethnic origin. Its in the rules.

But those rules are designed, and rightly so, to be to protect those within those minorities. The fact that the player said it to another player (who the abuse was aimed at) who is not within those minorities is where the difference of opinion lies.

thinking only gay people should be offended by homophobia or misogyny is only offensive to women, or that racism is only offensive to people of colour is 1950's thinking.

Discrimination and abuse based on discrimination is disgusting in all its forms and when you see it you should criticise and fight against it, not just when it affects you.

Should i not have been offended by Apartheid, im not a black south african, doesnt affect me.
The Holocaust? Im not a jew, doesnt affect me.
Racism? im not of colour, am I supposed to be ok with it?


Are the only forms of discrimination and abuse i should be against be those targeted at me?

The player said it to another player. Had that player being homosexual, then it was abuse. You having your ears pricked up from a distance and the player not knowing you from adam, can not in anyway be described as abuse to you.

That is the fundamental difference.

So abuse based on a player's children is ok?

Are players allowed to make comments about an opponents girlfriend? If it is allowed to make comments about an opponents girlfriend is it also okay to make a comment about an opponents boyfriend, or is that homophobic?

Calling a Welsh player a sheep botherer will be subject to a 5 match ban? What about poms and convicts, jocks, frogs?

Is there anything in the rules about threatening violence towards another player, or is that okay?

Nonsense. Hardaker used a homophobic word. That word is a word used to discriminate against and abuse gay people. That is the meaning of the word. (Some may try to reclaim its power, thats another debate, nobody is arguing Hardaker used it solidarity with homosexuals)

When you use a word like 'faggot' to insult someone, even someone who isnt gay, the implication of it is that gay people are lesser, to be compared to a homosexual is an insult. That is discrimination and abuse and it isnt difficult to understand.

Maybe if as many people were prepared to go in to bat for a gay person's right to be involved in RL and not have to hear casual homophobia as it seems are prepared to stand tall for a straight person's right to use a homophobic slur as an insult we might have more than a grand total of 0 openly gay players.

what do any of these things have to do with homophobia? whataboutery isnt a great debating technique.