Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu has been suspended for eight matches after using a racial slur towards Indigenous Australian player Ezra Mam during a match in Las Vegas. Leniu was found guilty by the NRL judiciary panel of calling Mam a “monkey,” leading Mam to release a statement saying he was “so angry and disappointed” that he couldn’t focus on the rest of the game.
Leniu pleaded guilty to using the racial slur and apologized to Mam, expressing a desire to travel to apologize in person. However, Mam rejected the approach. Leniu downplayed the incident as “a little bit of banter” during the hearing, but Mam’s statement clearly indicates the impact it had on him.
Roosters CEO Joe Kelly believes that Leniu did not use the word in a racially derogatory way and has announced plans to provide education on Indigenous and Pasifika cultures for the team. Leniu and his teammates will undergo further education on these cultures as well.
CNN reached out to Leniu and the Roosters for comment, with contributor Ben Church providing additional details on the incident. The NRL has taken a strong stance against racism and will be closely monitoring the situation as Leniu serves his suspension.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of educating players on the impact of their words and actions, and the Roosters are taking steps to ensure that all team members understand and respect Indigenous and Pasifika cultures in the future.
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