Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu has been slapped with an eight-match suspension after being found guilty of using a racial slur towards Indigenous Australian player Ezra Mam during a match in Las Vegas. Mam filed a complaint with the NRL, which led to the charges against Leniu.
During the hearing, Leniu pleaded guilty to calling Mam a “monkey” and issued an apology to his fellow player. However, Mam expressed his anger and disappointment in a statement following the incident, highlighting the harmful impact of racial slurs.
Initially, Leniu downplayed the incident as “a little bit of banter,” but Roosters CEO Joe Kelly stated that the word was not used in a racially derogatory way. Despite this, the club has announced plans to provide further education on Indigenous and Pasifika cultures to all team members.
As of now, Leniu and the Roosters have refrained from commenting on the findings or the suspension. The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for education and awareness surrounding racial sensitivity in sports. Forever Sports Online will continue to cover updates on this story as it unfolds.
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