Gallen to contest fine for alleged racial abuse
Jacquelin Magnay, Jamie Pandaram and Brad Walter | May 26, 2009
CRONULLA captain Paul Gallen claims he was misheard and will contest a $10,000 fine imposed by the NRL for allegedly racially abusing St George Illawarra forward Mickey Paea, complaining that he did not receive a hearing.
Fighting a sponsor backlash to the spate of bad news headlines of late, the NRL came in hard yesterday and fined Gallen despite Paea refraining from lodging an official complaint.
Gallen is believed to have told Paea yesterday that he didn't call him a "black c---", but rather a "f---ing c---" and intends to contest the breach notice.
When contacted by the Herald last night, Gallen made a tacky comment and hung up.
NRL chief executive David Gallop said the game had no place for racial vilification and deemed that Gallen had breached the club's code of conduct.
However, Gallen's manager, David Riolo, who met with the player at the Sharks Leagues Club last night, called on the NRL to hold a proper hearing.
"To get a hearing, that would be fair," Riolo said. "He is disappointed, he is very disappointed especially about the way the incident has come across."
Riolo said Gallen deserved the chance to defend himself and present his version of events, rather than be slapped with a breach notice before an inquiry.
He said Gallen had spoken to Paea and it was now "all sweet between the players".
The disciplinary action cost Gallen any chance of captaining NSW. He was named in the Blues' starting side for next week's State of Origin opener despite carrying a shoulder injury. Paea, 23, of Tongan heritage, complained to the referee during Saturday night's match, won 26-4 by the Dragons, that Gallen made the racist remark but he refused to make a formal complaint when pressed. The Sharks, facing a series of crises on other fronts, and the Dragons refused to take the matter further.
Gallen had claimed after the game that his choice of words were "nothing".
"He stepped on my hand and I objected to it. There was a bit of push and shove. It was nothing. It was a tough game of footy," Gallen said after the match.
Gallop said Gallen had made an apology for his on-field comments. "While the apology is certainly an important step in the right direction, there needs to be a clear recognition that racial vilification is not tolerated in rugby league," Gallop said.
"This is not something that happens on a regular basis and it is not something that can be dismissed under the guise of, 'what happens on the field stays on the field'.
"I respect the fact that Mickey Paea has dealt with the issue 'one to one' and that he wishes to move on.
"However, the area of racial vilification is also something that is bigger than two individuals: it involves a principle that we must support across all areas of the game.
"I don't believe racism is a part of rugby league and I don't suggest that these sort of comments represent a racist view, but I do believe that it is important everyone knows there are boundaries that simply can't be crossed.
"Excuses such as 'the heat of the moment' or gamesmanship when they are offered simply don't change that fact."
Former NRL players Anthony Mundine and Sonny Bill Williams addressed the issue yesterday, saying the NRL was not doing enough to stamp out racism.
"[Perpetrators] need to be banned for so many matches, they need to pay a hefty fine and need to go to racial vilification course or do something to understand how brutal that can be mentally," Mundine said.
Williams, of Samoan heritage, said: "Polynesians as a whole are quiet, shy people. That's why there needs to be more emphasis from the NRL … where they step in and say 'you don't need to say anything, you are shy, we will do something'."
Williams said victims of a head-high tackle didn't have to make a formal complaint, "and this [incident] is a lot more serious than that [head high tackle] - it [racial vilification] has been going on for years and definitely something should be done about it."
SHEER GALL: THE TROUBLED TIMES OF PAUL GALLEN
2003: Sent off for a high shot on Knights utility Sean Rudder.
2004: Involved in a fight with Tigers prop John Skandalis, which the NRL judiciary ruled was instigated and carried on by Gallen. Suspended for two weeks.
2007: Accused of taking a dive following a high shot from Richie Williams in a match against the Dragons. After going down, Gallen rises and winks at the opposition. Gallen then puts a high shot on Ben Creagh and says days later: "We've got a motto here at the Sharks: do whatever it takes to win. That's what I've always done. We won the game. That's all I care about."
2007: Three weeks later, is suspended for one week for a high tackle on Warriors winger Patrick Ah Van.
2007: Involved in an on-field fight with Queensland players during State of Origin III after putting a high shot on Maroons forward Tonie Carroll.
2007: Banned for one match for head-butting Roosters forward Shane Shackleton.
2007: Involved in a fist-fight with teammate Reece Williams at the home of fellow player Dustin Cooper after a drinking session.
2008: In round three, Gallen tries to rip open the stitching on a head wound of opposite Anthony Laffranchi. Gold Coast centre Josh Graham accuses Gallen of grabbing his testicles during the same match, although the allegation was not proved.
2008: Slaps the head of Eels prop Josh Cordoba while he was lying unconscious on the ground.
2008: NSW Origin fans react angrily after Gallen gives away three crucial penalties in the series decider, with Queensland winning.
2009: Forced to apologise and fined $10,000 after allegedly racially abusing Dragons forward Mickey Paea.
