Australian netball great Liz Ellis has slammed the sport's governing body in Australia, after it refused to sanction Israel Folau's wife for reposting his controversial online fundraising campaign.
Silver Ferns shooter Maria Folau, who plays for Adelaide Thunderbirds in Super Netball, reposted her husband's online campaign, which aims to raise AU$3m (NZ$3.15m) for legal fees after he was sacked.
- Netball star Maria Folau escapes sanctions for sharing husband Israel Folau's GoFundMe page
- Anti-Folau GoFundMe raises money for LGBTQ rights
- Former teammates turn on 'sickening' Folau
- Petition demands GoFundMe take down Folau's page
In a joint statement on Sunday, Netball Australia and the Super Netball league said no action would be taken, and that didn't sit well with former Diamonds captain Ellis.
"Yeah, nah, not good enough," she wrote on Twitter. "There is no room for homophobia in our game.
"Anyone who is seen to support or endorse homophobia is not welcome."
The former captain of the national team and the Sydney Swifts said, while she loved watching Maria Folau play, she did not want her sport endorsing the views of her husband.
Israel Folau's multi-million dollar contract was torn up in May, after one of his social-media posts citing the Bible was deemed homophobic.
"We will continue to support Maria as a valued member of the Thunderbirds and the Suncorp Super Netball league," the joint statement read.
The fundraising post, republished to Maria Folau's Instagram page on Friday, explains the couple has spent more than $100,000 on legal fees to fight the termination.
As of Sunday afternoon, a GoFundMe page set up by Israel Folau had raised more than AU$670,000 (NZ$705,000) of its AU$3m target.
Netball South Australia chief executive Bronwyn Klei also weighed in on the controversy, defending her organisation as committed to providing an inclusive environment.
"We also believe in fairness and perspective," she said, shortly before Folau took to the court for the Thunderbirds clash with the NSW Swifts in Adelaide on Sunday.
"Like millions of other people across Australia, Maria Folau uses her personal social media platform to share her life and beliefs with her family, friends and fans."
Klei insisted Netball SA did not endorse the post, but said the social-media policy has not been contravened.
"Maria is a key member of the Thunderbirds," she said. "We continue to support her, as we support all our players."
AAP
