'Shame on you': Qantas boss speaks out on Israel Folau
Rugby Australia’s biggest sponsor has appeared to call on the organisation to sack Israel Folau.
Speaking for the first time about the rugby star’s code-of-conduct hearing, Qantas boss Alan Joyce has condemned Folau.
“We don’t sponsor something to get involved in controversy – that’s not part of the deal,” he told the Australian Financial Review.
“We expect our partners to take the appropriate action. It’s their issue, they have to deal with it.”
Joyce’s stance is at odds with Folau being allowed to return to play for the Wallabies, who wear the Qantas logo on their jersey and training apparel.
The openly gay executive’s comments come after Folau was dumped as a brand ambassador by sportswear brand Asics following a marathon code-of-conduct hearing.
He was found guilty of a ‘high-level breach’ of his $4 million contract with RA.
The saga is not the first to hit Qantas in recent times, having been a sponsor of Cricket Australia when the ball-tampering scandal broke in March 2018.
The airline chose not to act when Folau shared his first anti-gay post last year.
Joyce has followed that path again, refusing to walk away from Qantas’s partnership and instead putting the heat on RA.
"We would give every organisation a chance to do that," he said of RA’s previous attempts to get Folau in line.
"It's not an issue for Qantas, it's an issue for every potential sponsor for Rugby Australia, ever.
"They have to manage it ... and shame on you if it happens a second time.
“That's the way we approach it in the aviation industry, and we expect these organisations to be the same.”
Time to move on
In a piece for PlayersVoice this week, former Wallabies centre Clyde Rathbone said the situation is black, white and grey all in one.
“I’m genuinely uncomfortable when someone loses a job through exercising freedom of speech,” he said.
“I think it should only happen in the absolute extreme cases, when the situation has become totally untenable because a contract has clearly been breached.
“And I think that’s the situation for Israel Folau now.”
CLYDE RATHBONE: Read the full story at PlayersVoice
Key sponsor leaves Folau
Asics signed a lucrative deal with Rugby Australia in 2018 which would see them as a major sponsor until the end of 2025.
While that deal will remain in place, the company cut ties with Folau this week.
“Asics is dedicated to sport and its healthy contribution to society. We believe sport is for everyone and we champion inclusivity and diversity,” a statement read.
“While Israel Folau is entitled to his personal views, some of those expressed in recent social media posts are not aligned with those of Asics.
“As such, our partnership with Israel has become untenable and he will no longer represent Asics as a brand ambassador.”
