freediver
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At my desk.
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Rugby Australia has started furiously shifting blame to it's sponsors - including the government. Meanwhile, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has denied responsibility for the firing, while still publicly maintaining support for it, and admitting he approached RA to ensure they were "not involved in the controversy".
'This is bigger than Israel Folau': RA chair opens fire
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/this-is-bigger-than-israel-folau-ra-chair-opens-fire-20190628-p522d5.html
Mr Clyne said the prospect of a drawn out court battle was a "painful" one for Australian rugby, but the alternative was worse if RA had not acted against Folau's Instagram post in April warning homosexuals, among other groups, were destined for hell.
"[The alternative] would be that we'd have no sponsors at all because no sponsor has indicated they would be willing to be associated with social media posts of that sort and that includes government, because we've also heard from them," he said.
‘Outrageous’: Qantas boss Alan Joyce responds to explosive Folau allegation
https://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby/outrageous-qantas-boss-alan-joyce-responds-to-explosive-folau-allegation/news-story/d9ad04a6f6debbb268f0faf871ca06b3
Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce says claims he was responsible for ordering Israel Folau’s sacking are “outrageous” while comparing the saga to cricket’s ball tampering brouhaha.
Speaking at a media conference on Thursday, Joyce reiterated that the airline was supportive of Rugby Australia’s decision to tear up Folau’s contract.
But he shot down the accusation from former Wallabies coach Alan Jones — and others — that the team’s major sponsor was actively involved in the employment dispute and subsequent contract termination.
“We sponsor organisations and sports teams to get a positive benefit out of it,” Joyce told reporters.
“When it becomes controversial, we, of course, want the sporting code to fix those issues.
“Israel’s comments were terrible for a large element of the community, a vulnerable element of the community.
“We felt that was causing controversy for our sponsorship and as a consequence, we asked Rugby Australia ‘what are you doing to make sure we’re not involved in controversy?’”
“It is their issue to resolve, they have put a solution in place, they’re working through that and we’re very supportive of what they’re doing.
“The same was true of Cricket Australia with the ball tampering, we said ‘that was not good.’ “Some sponsors pulled out, we didn’t.
“We gave them time to fix it, and they fixed it.
“We’re still a sponsor and continue to be a sponsor because they did the right thing.”
Joyce also joked that Jones was welcome to continue flying with Qantas.
“We don’t discriminate against anybody — other people may, but we don’t,” he laughed.
“Even Alan Jones is welcome to get Lifetime Platinum Status if he gets there.”
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