Aussie Soccer Players Beat The Odds And Toss 'Woke' Uniforms
The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in Australia joined the global initiative to hop on the 'woke' bandwagon. Owners decided that the team's uniforms needed to display gay pride colors to support the LBGTQ narrative. There was just one problem— No one ran it by the players. Some players were not willing to set their religious beliefs aside for the game, The Sydney Morning Herald reported:
Seven Manly players will boycott this Thursday night’s clash against the Roosters after being blindsided by the club’s decision to wear a pride jersey as the Sea Eagles’ season descended into chaos.
Sources with knowledge of discussions told the Herald that Manly coach Des Hasler had told the players he understood the difficult position the players have been put in as a result of the club not consulting them about the jersey, and will support their decision not to play.
Paul Gallen has presented a wholehearted argument amid Manly's pride jersey battle.
The club also understood the backlash it faced from the public if they decided against wearing the jersey after publicly launching it on Monday.
It’s understood Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolu Koula and Toafofoa Sipley have withdrawn from the match.
The day after news broke that almost half the Sea Eagles team said they would not play in Thursday night’s clash against the Roosters, Hasler fronted the media and confirmed religious and cultural differences were behind the stance. That's when he issued a formal apology.
In a contrite press conference alongside club captain Daly Cherry-Evans, he said none of the coaching staff nor the players had been made aware of the jersey before it was launched and lamented that, while the one-off rainbow design was intended to “represent diversity and inclusion for all”, the decision was made with “little consultation or collaboration with key stakeholders”.
It's good for them. Admitting that 'inclusion' directly excludes some and apologizing when they were wrong. I'm sad to say I don't think this would have been the outcome here in the US. IF anything, those players would have huge targets on their backs and be subject to constant liberal attacks.
I think Australia just out-freedomed most of the 'free' world by respecting their player's religious rights.