Sports and Technology Lawyer Simon Leaf has featured on Love Sport Radio discussing the financial settlement between Rugby Australia and former player Israel Folau after the termination of his employment following controversial social media posts earlier this year.
He said:
"Settlements like this tend to happen when there's usually a strong indication that one side is going to succeed and the other is going to lose. Though we don't know the exact facts, given the nature of the settlement and the wording that's been released, it would appear that Rugby Australia has climbed down significantly from its original position – ultimately accepting that Israel Folau right to practice his religion outweighed his breach of his employment contract.
"It's a tricky area, and it's one that Rugby Australia are trying to tread carefully with and they've made it clear that they don’t in any way support any of the statements that Folau has made, but at the same time they appear to have opened the doors to potentially let him return to play for the national team in the future and other players expressing offensive views in the context of their religious beliefs."