'Not good enough': Liz Ellis slams netball's stance on Maria Folau

Aussie netball legend Liz Ellis has taken aim at the sport’s governing bodies after they said Maria Folau was free to keep playing despite publicly endorsing her husband’s GoFundMe page.

Maria Folau, who plays for Adelaide Thunderbirds in Super Netball, re-posted her husband's online campaign, which aims to raise $3 million.

Israel Folau's $4 million contract was torn up in May after one of his social media posts citing the Bible was deemed homophobic.

"There is no action required by the league," a joint statement released on Sunday by Netball Australia and the Super Netball league read.

"We will continue to support Maria as a valued member of the Thunderbirds and the Suncorp Super Netball league."

However that stance didn’t sit well with Ellis.

“Not good enough,” Ellis wrote on Twitter in response to the statement.

“How about this: There is no room for homophobia in our game. Anyone who is seen to support or endorse homophobia is not welcome.

“As much as I love watching ⁦Maria Folau play netball I do not want my sport endorsing the views of her husband.”

Netball South Australia CEO Bronwyn Klei also took a diplomatic approach.

“First and foremost, I want to be very clear that Netball South Australia is fiercely determined to provide an inclusive environment that allows anyone to participate in the great game of netball regardless of gender, religious belief, age, race or sexual orientation,” Klei’s statement said.

“We also believe in fairness and perspective.

“Like millions of other people across Australia, Maria Folau uses her personal social media platform to share her life and beliefs with her family, friends and fans. This week, she shared her husband’s controversial GoFundMe post.

“While Netball SA in no way endorses the reposting, we do not believe Maria has contravened our social media policy.”

$600,000 and counting

On Saturday, Folau took to social media to thank donors for pouring over half a million dollars into his legal fight, doubling down on his intention to use the funds despite public outcry.

The former NRL, AFL and rugby star received more than $630,000 in donations of a $3 million target to his online fundraising page as of 1pm on Sunday.

Over 8000 people have donated to help support the former player's legal stoush against RA.

He thanked donors on Saturday and said he was "unsurprised" by criticism from RA and media personalities regarding his decision to establish the Go Fund Me page.

"The money that is donated will be used to fund my legal battle, which could take years. While the attacks against me have shown I have a big fight on my hands, I will stand strong," Folau wrote on social media.

"Your support and my faith in Jesus Christ will give me strength."

In his initial plea for donations, Folau said he had "the fight of my life on my hands".

He has launched legal proceedings with the Fair Work Commission against RA and is seeking up to $10 million in damages.

The case could be a landmark test of religious freedoms in Australia.

RA were less than impressed by Folau's attempt to solicit donations online.

"From our perspective (Go Fund Me) is a place where sick children get support, so it's certainly not a strategy we think is appropriate," Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle told Nine News on Friday.

Former Wallabies teammate Drew Mitchell also slammed Folau's decision, saying there were others more deserving of donations.

"YOU are in a fight that YOU chose to be in after YOU broke the terms of YOUR contract, the kids below are in a fight they NEVER wanted to be in & yet YOU think YOU deserve donations more than they do??!!," he posted online.

with AAP