Rugby Australia has officially torn up Israel Folau‘s $4 million contract, sacking the high-profile player after he made an absurdly homophobic Instagram post a little over a month ago.
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Rugby Australia officials set fire to Folau’s contract after an independent panel determined his employment should be terminated, handing down their findings earlier today.
Folau previously faced a Code of Conduct hearing and was found guilty of a high-level breach of player conduct for the Instagram post he made on April 10th, which asserted “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolators” that “hell awaits you.”
The situation is reportedly set to become incredibly complicated very quickly, as Folau is said to have rejected a second Code of Conduct hearing and will instead take the case directly to the Supreme Court.
Folau reportedly believes he has been unfairly dismissed and is being religiously persecuted. He is said to have rejected a $1 million settlement offer from Rugby Australia, and is now viewing the case as a test of his faith.
That spells trouble for the financially-strapped Rugby Australia, who can scarcely afford a lengthy extension of the issue, which has already spent $350,000 in legal fees in the month since the story broke. A Supreme Court case of this magnitude could take anywhere up to 18 months and cost RA millions in additional legal fees, which would be borderline crippling for the ailing sporting administration.
Folau is said to have told his churchgoers that RA’s previous settlement offer, which would have allowed him to keep playing, was an offer from Satan.
The fallout from the saga is expected to cost embattled Rugby Australia chief Raelene Castle her job.
Folau is yet to issue public comment on today’s decision to tear up his contract.
