Lebanon players to protest against governing body against Fiji

[Foreign Legion]

We may need to call in Salim Mahager to mediate

 

[Game_Breaker]

Can someone Photoshop Farah drinking on a Cedar tree please?

 

[yakstorm]

The last thing you should ever do, when accused of bullying and poor behaviour, is to publicly threaten (especially jail) and then suspend those making the accusations.

Regardless if the LRLF is completely in the right, they are making the accusations look legitimate by their behaviour.

The fact neither the RLIF or RLEF has said anything doesn't create any confidence either that the accusations by the NRL players are misguided.

Anyway, it's highly unlikely that the RLIF will take away their RLWC spot, but if they did, then it will go to another MEA nations.

 

[adamkungl]

The last thing you should ever do, when accused of bullying and poor behaviour, is to publicly threaten (especially jail) and then suspend those making the accusations.

Regardless if the LRLF is completely in the right, they are making the accusations look legitimate by their behaviour.

I'm struggling to understand this viewpoint.
The LRLF was accused of being unfit for purpose by mostly foreign players meant to be representing it.
They claim they have received no official complaint from any of the players involved, other than a public threat to stand down.

I'm not sure what the 'correct' response is that people seem to want?
Roll over and resign just because some Aussie blow-ins said to?
Some sort of mediation process would be great but its been 18months, obviously one or both sides are refusing to come to the table.

Ultimately, the manner in which Farah and co have acted makes sanctions necessary. The LRLF can't allow itself to be bent over by any overpaid NRL star with a grudge. Instead of representing their country they trashed the brand and performed poorly in a game they clearly weren't ready for.
If Kangaroos went on tour and spent the entire time slandering the ARLC because some of them didn't like the way the NRL was run you can guarantee there would be sanctions.

Regarding the jail threat, the LRLF obviously can't send someone to jail. They were making the players involved aware that the action they were taking may be considered a crime in Lebanon.

 

[Pommy]

I'm struggling to understand this viewpoint.
The LRLF was accused of being unfit for purpose by mostly foreign players meant to be representing it.
They claim they have received no official complaint from any of the players involved, other than a public threat to stand down.

I'm not sure what the 'correct' response is that people seem to want?
Roll over and resign just because some Aussie blow-ins said to?
Some sort of mediation process would be great but its been 18months, obviously one or both sides are refusing to come to the table.

Ultimately, the manner in which Farah and co have acted makes sanctions necessary. The LRLF can't allow itself to be bent over by any overpaid NRL star with a grudge. Instead of representing their country they trashed the brand and performed poorly in a game they clearly weren't ready for.
If Kangaroos went on tour and spent the entire time slandering the ARLC because some of them didn't like the way the NRL was run you can guarantee there would be sanctions.

Regarding the jail threat, the LRLF obviously can't send someone to jail. They were making the players involved aware that the action they were taking may be considered a crime in Lebanon.

There seems to be plenty in Lebanon that aren’t happy with the LRLF and their are claims of fake teams being established to vote themselves in to power. This goes further than Robbie Farah and co.

 

[adamkungl]

Dailytelegraph:

The future of the Lebanon rugby league team is in tatters after 17 players, including high-profile NRL stars such as Robbie Farah, Mitchell Moses and Josh Mansour, were sensationally banned from representing the Cedars.

The Daily Telegraph has obtained the extraordinary letter sent by Lebanon Rugby League International Federation chief executive Nayef Albert Abi Said where he details players would be charged for “misconduct for acts of prejudicial to the interests of Lebanese rugby league and the sport”.

“We are duty bound as the national governing body to do so for the simple fact that we believe gross misconduct has occurred,” Said wrote.

“The actions many of the squad were involved with were premeditated attempts to denigrate the LRLF and destabilize Lebanese rugby league.”

The letter blames skipper Farah and long-time Cedars player-turned-player representative Chris Saab for “co-opting the wider playing group into their actions, misleading them with false information’’.

Said then goes on to address a range of issues players have been speaking out against, including claims of an illegal election that Said wrote were “categorically untrue”.

Said also said he “understood the force of peer pressure”.


The players were hit with personal misconduct charges on Sunday. The Daily Telegraph has also obtained some of those letters.

Players were whacked with various misconduct charges, including slander for not distancing themselves from comments made by Farah, who said he was speaking on behalf of the playing group.

“As a member of the playing group, you have not repudiated those false statements, hence you leave us with no option but to consider you supportive of them.”

Other players were hit with further charges for posing for a Sunday Telegraph photograph where a host of NRL stars covered up the Cedars logo. Players also patched over the emblem in a team photo in the lead-up to the Test against Fiji.

Saab hit back at claims he had pressured players to do anything against their wishes, pointing to an email sent by Farah hitting out against the board that had every player cc’d on it. Players then wrote back backing Farah’s stance.

Saab also fears for the Cedars’ future in the wake of the latest drama engulfing the national team and its board.

“It is a real shame the board is focusing on the symptoms rather than the cause,” Saab said. “They keep trying to sell it to everyone it’s myself and a few senior players doing this, but they have been told numerous times this is a collective.

“I fear for the future of the national team. They can threaten to keep players on the sidelines but it is doing nothing more than damaging the credibility of Lebanon rugby league.

“The reality is the players do not support the board and will not support the board until they step down and a democratic election is held.

“They are not doing themselves any favours. They are pushing the players further and further away.

“You have the whole championship competition in Lebanon which has been in boycott for almost two seasons and our national side has been boycotting since the 2017 World Cup. People can make their own decisions on where the problem lies.

“I mean, how do you sit on your seat on the boards when none of the players in Lebanon or Australia want you there. You tell me who is doing this for their own benefit?”

Moses, Mansour and Adam Doueihi did not even play in the Test but have been charged after posing in the Sunday Telegraph photo.

THE LETTER: https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/4ba1c22d17f18c4110b5e3f287ac31cf?width=650

 

[adamkungl]

A summary of the LRLF's statement which can be seen in full here:
https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/4ba1c22d17f18c4110b5e3f287ac31cf?width=650

- Claims Farah and Saab are the ringleaders and have duped teammates.
- Asks players to seriously consider the situation as individuals and respect the process, rather than continue be 'duped' by Farah and Saab.
- Claims Farah and Saab's main contact in Lebanon, (presumably the source of the this drama), is a known crook and has been found guilty of misappropriating funds by the RLEF and is facing criminal charges.
- Claim Farah and Saab's intention is to takeover the Lebanon Rugby League.
- LRLF summarise and respond to Farah and Saabs allegations:
* Deny illegal board elections, claiming they are overseen by government.
* Claim Saab has never presented actual allegations or evidence, and that the original board he asked to resign has since been completely replaced and restructured.
* Deny the lack of domestic activity and provide information about the status of the club championship and the reasons for its suspension.
* Deny the failure to capitalise on 2017s success, with examples
* Deny that 2021 spot is in danger of being stripped. Claim entirely fabricated by Farah.
* Deny that Farah or Saab have ever attempted to open a reasonable dialogue so these issues could be discussed professionally.

 

[Burns]

Lol Robbie Farah

 

[adamkungl]

 

[roughyedspud]

Would I be wrong to suggest certain players are/where trying to lead a coup to take over Lebanese RL ?

 

[Pommy]

Would I be wrong to suggest certain players are/where trying to lead a coup to take over Lebanese RL ?

I think at this point we need to wait for the RLIF to do their thing as it’s just he said vs he said.

 

[siv]

I doubt Farah is interested in any position on the LRLF

 

[yakstorm]

I'm struggling to understand this viewpoint.
The LRLF was accused of being unfit for purpose by mostly foreign players meant to be representing it.
They claim they have received no official complaint from any of the players involved, other than a public threat to stand down.

I'm not sure what the 'correct' response is that people seem to want?
Roll over and resign just because some Aussie blow-ins said to?
Some sort of mediation process would be great but its been 18months, obviously one or both sides are refusing to come to the table.

Ultimately, the manner in which Farah and co have acted makes sanctions necessary. The LRLF can't allow itself to be bent over by any overpaid NRL star with a grudge. Instead of representing their country they trashed the brand and performed poorly in a game they clearly weren't ready for.
If Kangaroos went on tour and spent the entire time slandering the ARLC because some of them didn't like the way the NRL was run you can guarantee there would be sanctions.

Regarding the jail threat, the LRLF obviously can't send someone to jail. They were making the players involved aware that the action they were taking may be considered a crime in Lebanon.

I'm not saying the LRLF should just bend over, far from it, but there are smarter things they can do then by making threats and suspensions for the claims they have received.

Firstly on the claim the board were not democratically elected, they should be able to disclose meeting minutes, attendees, dates, constitution, etc. They could have at least turned the conversation to, why were some of the people who are against the local administration not present.

On Financial mismanagement, this is something that can be easily independently audited, whilst on the claim of fake games, they could share videos and photo footage, team sheets, scores, fixtures and results, plus If needs be, any testimonies from participating players and officials.

Honestly 1 & 3 they should be doing anyway as per their RLEF membership. Strange the RLEF hasn't yet received all these documents and that the organisation has said nothing on the matter.

Anyway at least if they took these steps they may have been able to diffuse the situation or at least paint themselves in a better light.

They may have been able to have salvage their relationship with the NRL as well, which is now completed burnt after two consecutive years of drama. Instead they now will find themselves on the outer again in Australia and will struggle to get access to players or financial support.

 

[Perth Tiger]

What about the comp in Lebanon. the players have claimed it hasn't run for the last 2 years. It should be pretty easy for the LRLF to prove the comp has been played by showing some vision/scores/reports. But I haven't seen any proof online that the comp has been running.

Does anyone know if it has or hasn't?

 

[Pommy]

They may have been able to have salvage their relationship with the NRL as well, which is now completed burnt after two consecutive years of drama. Instead they now will find themselves on the outer again in Australia and will struggle to get access to players or financial support.

Seems unlikely players are going to turn down Origin money to play for them like the islanders are.
Personally I find it hard to believe Farah has got behind this without there at least being some truth behind it, as you say most of it should be very easy to prove him wrong about otherwise.

 

[adamkungl]

What about the comp in Lebanon. the players have claimed it hasn't run for the last 2 years. It should be pretty easy for the LRLF to prove the comp has been played by showing some vision/scores/reports. But I haven't seen any proof online that the comp has been running.

Does anyone know if it has or hasn't?

The LRLF have stated fairly openly that they suspended the Club Championship because it was failing to meet reasonable standards, there was a forfeit rate of around 50%. They are trying to implement higher standards and currently 3 of 5 clubs or something meet the new standards. Other clubs are railing against them because of this.
However the schools and university competitions are apparently still running and they regularly post scores, ladders, photos, etc.

 

[adamkungl]

I'm not saying the LRLF should just bend over, far from it, but there are smarter things they can do then by making threats and suspensions for the claims they have received.

Firstly on the claim the board were not democratically elected, they should be able to disclose meeting minutes, attendees, dates, constitution, etc. They could have at least turned the conversation to, why were some of the people who are against the local administration not present.

On Financial mismanagement, this is something that can be easily independently audited, whilst on the claim of fake games, they could share videos and photo footage, team sheets, scores, fixtures and results, plus If needs be, any testimonies from participating players and officials.

Honestly 1 & 3 they should be doing anyway as per their RLEF membership. Strange the RLEF hasn't yet received all these documents and that the organisation has said nothing on the matter.

Anyway at least if they took these steps they may have been able to diffuse the situation or at least paint themselves in a better light.

They may have been able to have salvage their relationship with the NRL as well, which is now completed burnt after two consecutive years of drama. Instead they now will find themselves on the outer again in Australia and will struggle to get access to players or financial support.

The LRLF has answered most of these points including that their elections took place under Sports Ministry watch and presumably have evidence to prove their legitimacy.
As to whether they should present said evidence to certain people depends on whether those people are actually open to discussion and whether they have any intention of acting in good faith.

Is there any reason to doubt that the RLEF hasn't received required documentation? I haven't seen anything from them raising any concerns?

 

[DlEHARD]

Rugby League....

 

[Pommy]

The LRLF has answered most of these points including that their elections took place under Sports Ministry watch and presumably have evidence to prove their legitimacy.
As to whether they should present said evidence to certain people depends on whether those people are actually open to discussion and whether they have any intention of acting in good faith.

Is there any reason to doubt that the RLEF hasn't received required documentation? I haven't seen anything from them raising any concerns?

One of the governing body’s either RLIF or RLEF we’re going to get involved and see what was going on there was a statement, I don’t think they have reported any finding yet.
If LRLF is the shit show as is claimed then them saying anything isn’t worth much.
What were the sports ministry looking at? Just that it was a free vote or did they check to see if these people voting should have even had a vote in the first place?
There’s a lot of questions to be answered and there’s big questions over what both sides are saying.
Some people are casting doubt on Farah just because it’s Farah and they already dislike the guy.

 

[roughyedspud]

I doubt Farah is interested in any position on the LRLF

Bet he knows someone that would be,a former player,manager,agent,cousin...