Berkeley_Eagle
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Do you think that David Gallop should apologise to Brett Stewart
For twenty months Brett Stewart has been forced to silently endure the shame of being referred to as "disgraced footballer Brett Stewart".
The disgrace was not on Stewart, it was on the media and an NRL leadership that hung him out to dry.
David Gallop slapped a 4 week suspension on Stewart and a $100,000 fine on Manly, at pains to say it was not because of the charges Stewart faced, but for leaving premises intoxicated.
The only problem for Gallop and the NRL is that the court case has shown, via witness statements from police at the scene, that Brett was not as affected as Gallop led the public to believe.
In using his powers to suspend Stewart Gallop leaned on a rule that binds players to "sober, professional and courteous behaviour" while consuming alcohol to justify his intervention.
The problem for Gallop now is that the court case has clearly demonstrated that in the opinion of most, if not all, police on the scene Stewart did indeed present as in control, professional and courteous.
Sorry Gallop and the NRL, but you picked the wrong horse to whip. Brett Stewart and Manly had not done anything wrong.
And you haven't been consistent either. No one had received such a penalty previously, and since the initial media kerfuffle died down, no one has since.
For instance, as recently as three weeks ago, and at a time when it could have prejudiced a jury when Stewart's case was in session, the Australian halfback was put in lock-up and has not been punished.
Gallop has a far bigger responsibility to Rugby League than Brett Stewart, and he has a responsibility to justice.
He has no option but to apologise to Brett Stewart and his family and return the $100,000 fine he imposed on Manly for doing the right and just thing in supporting him against the forces conspiring against him to trash his reputation.
if you do can you sign the petition below please
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/doubledemerit
For twenty months Brett Stewart has been forced to silently endure the shame of being referred to as "disgraced footballer Brett Stewart".
The disgrace was not on Stewart, it was on the media and an NRL leadership that hung him out to dry.
David Gallop slapped a 4 week suspension on Stewart and a $100,000 fine on Manly, at pains to say it was not because of the charges Stewart faced, but for leaving premises intoxicated.
The only problem for Gallop and the NRL is that the court case has shown, via witness statements from police at the scene, that Brett was not as affected as Gallop led the public to believe.
In using his powers to suspend Stewart Gallop leaned on a rule that binds players to "sober, professional and courteous behaviour" while consuming alcohol to justify his intervention.
The problem for Gallop now is that the court case has clearly demonstrated that in the opinion of most, if not all, police on the scene Stewart did indeed present as in control, professional and courteous.
Sorry Gallop and the NRL, but you picked the wrong horse to whip. Brett Stewart and Manly had not done anything wrong.
And you haven't been consistent either. No one had received such a penalty previously, and since the initial media kerfuffle died down, no one has since.
For instance, as recently as three weeks ago, and at a time when it could have prejudiced a jury when Stewart's case was in session, the Australian halfback was put in lock-up and has not been punished.
Gallop has a far bigger responsibility to Rugby League than Brett Stewart, and he has a responsibility to justice.
He has no option but to apologise to Brett Stewart and his family and return the $100,000 fine he imposed on Manly for doing the right and just thing in supporting him against the forces conspiring against him to trash his reputation.
if you do can you sign the petition below please
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/doubledemerit
