That's the difference betwen the two codes. They close ranks around them until it goes away, we hang them out to dry.....
Which is the morally superior code I wonder?
And why hasn't any so called Rugby League supporting journo picked these up and shoved it back into the face of these arrogant Mexican pricks.
Here's more on that one, it's where "hush money" got a run...
http://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/commo...//www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2004/s1069962.htm
PM - Friday, 19 March , 2004 18:34:00
Reporter: Rachel Carbonell
MARK COLVIN: In the Aussie Rules sex scandal, just days after rape allegations against two St Kilda players, new claims emerged that a woman was paid to keep quiet over an allegation of sexual assault in Adelaide several years ago. The clubs on the defensive are Port Adelaide and the Sydney Swans, and both deny making any payment.
Rachel Carbonell reports.
RACHEL CARBONELL: Port Adelaide's Peter Burgoyne and former Brisbane and Port Adelaide defender, Adam Heuskes, were charged with rape in August 2000 but the charges were dropped several weeks later.
An anonymous woman claims she was sexually assaulted by the pair, and by another unnamed player from the Sydney Swans. She claims she was paid $200,000 to keep quiet, but there's no suggestion the payment was an admission of guilt.
The coaches of the clubs linked to the latest scandal were all attending a meeting in Melbourne today and were forced to front the media to address the claims.
Swans coach Paul Roos says the player involved at his club was never interviewed by police, let alone charged and no money was paid.
PAUL ROOS: Well, I mean, if a player hasn't done anything
interviewed by police, hasn't been linked to a crime, I guess it's very hard to comment. That's all I really know at the moment, so at this stage we don't believe anything's been
anything wrong has been done.
RACHEL CARBONELL: Brisbane Lions coach, Leigh Matthews, says the allegations have nothing to do with his club.
LEIGH MATTHEWS: Adam Heuskes played for Brisbane, no, well, you know, the facts are facts. If someone's played for you and their name gets mentioned, it's one of the things that we know in the football world is that the first thing that gets mentioned about an individual is his football clubs or former football clubs. But you live with it, there's nothing you can do about it.
REPORTER: Was money paid as a settlement?
LEIGH MATTHEWS: No idea. No idea.
REPORTER: Was that something you had to deal with at the time with Adam, obviously?
LEIGH MATTHEWS: I'm pretty sure that what's being spoken of was after he left us. He did play with us, but I'm pretty sure
I only know what I read in the paper, it certainly was not anything that we were aware of. If we paid any money we'd be aware of it, I can guarantee you that.
RACHEL CARBONELL: The Port Adelaide club's administration called a press conference at its headquarters this afternoon, where CEO Brian Cunningham defended the team's talented forward Peter Burgoyne, but refused to name him because of a confidentiality agreement.
BRIAN CUNNINGHAM: It's important to realise at this point that the player
this issue was out in the public arena in the year 2000. he was investigated by the police, he was reviewed by the DPP, there were no criminal charges laid, therefore the player is innocent, therefore we don't name the player, and we did review it and we did take action against the player at the time. We took action on the basis that the player put himself in a position of risk.
REPORTER: What was that action?
BRIAN CUNNINGHAM: We fined the player and we counselled the player, and of course as we would normally do in the football club, take the player, and all of our players through extensive programs in terms of sexual harassment, racial vilification etc.
Those programs are supplied through the AFL, through the players association and equally, through our own club. So those programs have been put in place consistently for many years and continue to be put in place.
RACHEL CARBONELL: The club's President, Greg Boulton, also reiterated that the club paid no one for their silence.
GREG BOULTON: The club advised the Port Adelaide player to obtain a lawyer, which he did. The club attended meetings between the lawyer and player as an observer. The club did not pay or compensate in any way, any party in connection with the matter, nor did it provide or pay for the player's legal assistance.
RACHEL CARBONELL: The South Australian Director of Public Prosecutions, Paul Rofe, put out a statement today saying the first he heard of any money being given to the woman was today.
He says the woman indicated when she found out there would be no prosecution that she would attempt civil action, and thus if money had been paid it was after criminal proceedings and not an offence.
However, in his statement he went on to say that he stood by his comments at the time which were that the AFL and clubs need to look at the players' code of conduct as it relates to off field behaviour, and while he was not able to proceed with a criminal prosecution, it appeared the woman was not treated with appropriate respect.
Earlier this week AFL chief Andrew Demetriou invited women who had been abused by AFL footballers to come forward, and indicated he would be happy if they wanted to take their complaint directly to the league.
This invitation, and the growing claims that football cover ups are common place must have all clubs in the league worried about what surprises might be waiting in the new season.
MARK COLVIN: Rachel Carbonell.
