Tony Clubb has been charged with a Grade F Unacceptable language based on national or ethnic origin, meaning he will be referred to a tribunal. But, just how has social media reacted to the news that he potentially faces eight weeks out?
One Twitter user was keen to see just how strong the RFL’s stance on racism will be if Clubb is found guilty.
Tony Clubb has been charged with a Grade F offence of “unacceptable language/abuse based on national or ethnic origin”. Tribunal on Tuesday.
After 'Tackle It' and taking the knee, IF Clubb is found guilty, there is where we really find out how serious the RFL are about racism.
— ᴀᴀʀᴏɴ ʙᴏᴡᴇʀ (@AaronBower) May 3, 2021
Another called on the RFL to stand up strong, calling for the termination of Clubb’s contract.
Back up this stance and terminate Tony Clubb’s contract https://t.co/vOLdHfZvxz
— brandon (@brandonjames_GB) May 3, 2021
That seemed to be the consensus around Twitter, with another user wanting Clubb to be forced to leave the game.
Tony Clubb shouldn’t be allowed to play again and that’s that
— Laura Willingham (@laurwillingham_) May 3, 2021
Some were also vociferous supporters of Andre Savelio.
How can people even defend this by saying"its not that bad" @AndreSavelio has been a VICTIM of RACISM… how that affects a player is for no one else to fuckin judge but him!! He had every right to report it and ever right to be angry and upset! Tony Clubb deserves his punishment
— kayla 💙 (@kaylabowers1987) May 3, 2021
One person even drew parallels between her own experiences and Savelio’s.
Thank you for reporting it! As the mother of mixed race children who suffer racism regularly I am eternally grateful to public figures like yourself making the public aware that this goes on and must be stopped! @WiganWarriorsRL and @TheRFL must now act.
— Shevaughn Lancelott (@shevlance) May 1, 2021
One man highlighted the importance of the case overall.
Suppose the conundrum for the RFL now is to determine whether or not Tony is educationally aware of how his comment could have hurt Andre, or if he is indeed a closet racist and potentially a hater of all Polynesian people..
In anycase a landmark case for the sport— Andrew Cunliffe (@andywc1980) May 1, 2021
However, that consensus was undermined by a few Twitter users.
Out of interest if Tony Clubb had call (for example) James Maloney an Australian cunt would he still be getting labelled as a racist?
— Paul Fletcher (@PaulFletcher14) April 30, 2021
One critic also pointed to the time span between the allegation and Savelio’s decision to report it.
Can I just ask why he left it for 15 minutes or so before reporting it to the referee? If that had been me who had been verbally abused I’d have reported immediately.
— Josie Andrews (@josie_andrews13) May 1, 2021
Surely these are adults, in a physical game, sledging has always taken place.. a ban of more than a week is outrageous.
Yes, IF it proved true, it is wrong! and disciplinary will punish him with a ban, but some of these calls are well over and above! Liverpool Students have just voted to change the name of a classic building Gladstone Hall, named after the PM who made history, to the name of a Liverpool lady who suffered racism?
Everyone falling over themselves to be as pc as possible .
Let’s get this right. He gets an 8 match ban and a £500 fine for calling a lad born in Polynesia a Polynesian.
Am I missing something?
Yes you are, to use someones race in a derogatory way is racist, I think the ban was about right tbh. At the end of the day it is a physical, confrontational game and sometimes in the heat of the moment things get said that are out of order. As long as they are dealt with and pushed out of the game so far as we can then the action is appropriate. Banning him for life would be a little extreme.