A Cronulla junior player has been told to cover up a homophobic tattoo or be barred from playing in a New South Wales Rugby League sanctioned competition again.
That is according to The Daily Telegraph’s Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield, who reported the news on Saturday night and expanded on it during an appearance on The Big Sports Weekend.
Rothfield revealed that the young player had received an official warning from Cronulla junior rugby league over two inappropriate tattoos.
One read ‘eat s**t f****t’ while ‘snort lines and f***’ was the tattoo on the other leg.
Rothfield said Cronulla juniors officials did not realise the nature of the tattoo until a photo of the player, who has not been named, was inadvertently posted on social media.
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“Just vile,” Rothfield said on Sunday morning.
“They are so offensive. It is so homophobic. They didn’t realise. They didn’t check the leg tattoos of every player they pick in rep sides but when a photo was put up on social media of the player, they recognised it and sent it to the New South Wales Rugby League and good on Dave Trodden.
“He jumped on it straight away. He said we have zero tolerance for any form of bullying, harassment or vilification towards people with diverse sexualities and genders.
“They’ve said to this bloke, ‘Cover them up with tape or you will not play in a New South Wales Rugby League sanctioned competition ever again’. I applaud them for coming down so hard on his rubbish.
“He plays in a club where there are a lot of young women and men who participate for the enjoyment, for the camaraderie and it’s just so out of order.”