1
Crusaders player slammed for racist on-air comments
By Online Editors
New Zealand's Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) has described a Super Rugby star's comments as racist while clearing Sky TV of any wrongdoing in airing his comments.
Sky Sport show Kick Off was the subject of a complaint after an episode on June 13, 2019, saw Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall label All Blacks centre Jack Goodhue "a Jew".
A regular segment of the show sees guests give out a 'red card' to a player of their choice while reviewing the previous week of rugby action.
That week saw Hall as the guest and Goodhue the target of the 'red card' because he was allegedly too cheap to pay for his wedding.
"I'm red-carding…Jack Goodhue for his mullet…the real reason why he's running a mullet at the moment is that he's engaged…doesn't want to pay for his wedding, so he's actually looking for Woman's Day or Woman's Weekly to try and get behind and pay for his wedding, so red card for being a Jew, Jack, so there you go mate."
Continue reading below...
The BSA labelled this remark as a clear example of casual racism.
"We consider Mr Hall's comment to be ignorant and disrespectful. It is an example of casual anti-Semitism and such comments can contribute to the normalisation of racism," a statement from the BSA read.
"There is no room in New Zealand for casual racism and it is important that we all work hard to move away from this type of language. "
However, the BSA ultimately concluded that the slur was not serious enough to warrant a breach of broadcasting standards.
"We do not consider that the comment contained the level of malice or nastiness required, nor did it amount to a sustained attack on a particular group as required, to find a breach of the discrimination and denigration standard."
According to the statement, SKY TV apologised for "any distress caused as a result of this comment" and confirmed it had spoken to Mr Hall to "ensure this doesn't happen again".
A spokesperson for The Jewish Council in New Zealand told Stuff the decision was "extremely disappointing and quite shocking".
"It is unacceptable that the broadcaster should not be [held] accountable for saying such a thing," Juliet Moses said.
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission.
After a thorough and lengthy process, the Crusaders have decided to retain their name:
Trending on RugbyPass
2
All Blacks XV player ratings vs Munster
3
Suaalii strikes awe as Wallabies lose midfielder
4
Borthwick, it's time to own up – Andy Goode
5
Latest Comments
There is a major story unfolding around Gleeson's bar in Booterstown, South Dublin City last night. Beaudy Barrett, DMac and Cody Taylor were there. DMac was supposed to be on the Guinness 0.0 but lets just say it didn't turn out that way.
Hours later, Dmac out cold, head on the table with a long stallagtite of flem and spittle rising and falling with his breathing. There is a video apparently.
The barman barred a staggering Taylor from any more Guinness but Taylor kept pushing past him, pulled a seat up to the Guinness tap and personally pulled himself pints, claiming it was 'celebrity pint pulls mate'.
One of these celebrity pint pulls made a local paper but it's only a matter of time before the real context comes out. Dmac is out of the team for Friday due to breaking 'internal standards', Sititi starting at 10.
Go to commentsNow that made me laugh bull!
I tell you what though, the head knock from Kriel on Hugh jones in the wc that didn’t result in any card was a real mystery with the way things are now.
Also suspect the Boks will be pretty well motivated by glasgows antics in stellenbosch last week and loftus in June…
Should be a cracker hopefully!
Go to comments