5 November 2011
Dear RFU.
I am writing to express my disgust at recent allegations/charges made about Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolo and to ask where your hard line begins.
1) Is a tweet, offensive or not, more dangerous than Chris Hala'ufia's recent 'tackle' made against Olly Morgan? A 7 week ban compare to Eliota's potential 6 month ban? is that correct in your eyes? How about Ratovou in the corresponding Gloucester vs Saracens fixture last year, deliberately trying to get his leg under Charlie Sharples body as he dived for a try, why was he not cited? I take it as your view is that its fine to try and injure someone, but not to tweet about it. Bodies may be hurt, but not reputations or feelings.
2) Why have Eli's tweets to 13'022 people been cited, but Chris Wyles hand gestures (middle finger and, well lets call it the Nescafe 'shaking the beans' motion) to the crowd, during a game shown on ESPN live and also other affiliate channels, as well as a 12k strong live crowd been deemed ok? Is it because a camera didn't pick up the action? In which case, if Gloucester fans complain to you, will you act? How about again during the Gloucester Vs Saracens game last year when a ball was kicked off of the pitch into Gloucester fans by a Saracens fan AFTER the game had ended? or Steve Borthwick swearing at the Shed? Are these actions less serious than Eli's tweets? (that were caused by the anger he felt at being abused on the pitch by Owen Farrell, who i believe wasn't cited for calling Eliota a B**ch)
3) What length of ban was given to Collins and Cracknell of Worcester Warriors when they pulled fans (each others fathers if i recall) out of the crowd and assaulted them on the pitch after their relegation? Is THIS less of an offence than an angry tweet?
4) At an amateur level, last season after a game that my stepson was involved in at U15 level, a 'bench clearing' brawl occured after a teammate of my stepson was assaulted, during the melee, the opposition coach was seen punching a 14 year old boy in the face on 2 occasions. The RFU appointed referee walked off and refused to act in any way. The club my stepson plays for complained to the RFU, and went to great lengths to accumulate many eyewitness statements, we NEVER heard a thing back about it. So a coach can assault a 14 year old child, but a player cannot tweet his true feelings.
5) Where was this Twitter crackdown when Olivier Azam was being abused on twitter following his yellow card in the Northampton Vs Gloucester game last season and Brett Sharman, Adam Eustace and one of the coaches who's name i've forgotten were tweeting about both Olivier Azam and Gloucester fans in a derogatory fashion? Or is the hardline because Eliota was punished during the world cup.
It comes to something when a player who has always had a great rapport with fans and has had no real disciplinary problems until the last month or so has been given this tag of a troublemaker over his opinions that he shares on a social networking site, i believe free speech is legal, and i have no idea how he can be punished for his opinions when there are FAR more troubling matters happening in the world of rugby, and i am sickened at the thought that his career as a Gloucester player may come to a premature end on Saturday as he has been an entertaining player and an ambassador for the Aviva Premiership (check out his videos on Rugbydump if you don't think he has a global reputation). I haven't always agreed with some of his thoughts, but i believe he has the right to express his opinion in the same way as anyone else.
I beg of you to use something not often associated with the RFU, your common sense, and see this as a minor problem in a big Rugby world.
Your's faithfully
Richard Church Keen
#GlawsSOS
