Really? So if someone said something homophobic or racist, they shouldn't be punished?

Define 'punished,. I personally don't harbour any racist or homophobic views. However, nor do I think someone else should be punished just because I may not agree with it or someone else maybe offended.

If somebody sets out to verbally harass an individual it's one thing but if somebody is merely expressing an opinion and someone feels offended then it's tough . Offence can only be taken. If somebody is offended by somehing I say then it's not really my fault. There seems to be a prevalent culture nowdays where people seek out things to be offended by and then demand an apology. If we want free speech then we have to understand that we may not like some of the things we hear.

I'm not referring to anything Shaun Wane may have said tonight.

As a fellow 50 something and not a fan of said Mr S Wane I would have to defend his vocabulary on this occasion. Bent in this context does not mean he's homophobic. The Oxford English Dictionary will be a much smaller volume if the pc brigade have their way.

Is it not time we in this country stooped doing things like this lip reading what next read every fans lips who were at the match to see if they said the same, good god give a rest he did not say it to the refs face

All because the Ape is sat in stands doesn't mean he can say what he likes.

I don't think for a minute that Wane was making a homophobic comment, but surely calling the referee bent (in the sense 'corrupt') is pretty serious too.

Was this the "Ape" who out played your coach on the pitch.... Would you like some crisps to go with your Yorkshire bitter?

Why not?
The south stand talk gibberish at Leeds all the time

Pretty much. It never crossed my mind that it was homophobic and I'd question the mind-frame of anyone who hears such a criticism of a referee and thinks homophobia. That said, Shaun needs to bear in mind that when at a televised game there's no such thing as a private comment, and a coach directly referring to the referee as corrupt, however offhandedly, isn't on. Slap on the wrist, maybe a fine.

This. Especially as coaches have been (ridiculously) fined for simply criticising referees performances in recent time.

Small fine, slap on the wrist, nothing to see here.

I don't think he was being homophobic. I was responding to a post which I believe suggested that homophobic or racial abuse should not be punished, even if the poster did not intend to mean that.

Ultimately he was being publicly critical of a referee so like others have said a fine and a slap on the wrist for Mr Wane.

The better team on the day won a good game of rugby. As for Yorkshire bitter, I personally prefer a nice glass (or several) of red wine!!

Anyone who thinks Wane has said "bent" in a homophobic context really needs to give their head a shake.

That said, professionals should not be going around calling match officials corrupt. It's not acceptable. Shaun Wane is not a fan on the stands. He is a member of staff at a professional rugby club that receives money from a governing body selling TV rights and sponsorship. A lot of that money comes from having a good image, of which effing and jeffing and calling referees bent damages. You can't go around saying things like that in most jobs, so let's leave the "freedom of speech" lark out of it and remember he's at work.

Small fine, slap in the wrist, don't do it again.