In Australia, most of the rugby team refused to wear pro-LGBT shirts to the match

Seven players from Australia’s Manly Warringah Sea Eagles rugby league team have declined to play in an upcoming game after the club encourages them to wear LGBTQ+ sports jerseys. This is a large part of the team, which includes 13 members.

About it informs Euronews.

The team is required to wear rainbow striped jerseys for Thursday’s game against the Sydney Roosters. But seven players – Josh Aloay, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Shuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolu Coula and Toafofoa Sipley – have told club officials that wearing the jersey is against their cultural and religious beliefs, even though the specially designed kit is a huge hit with the club. team fans.

Team coach Des Hasler said that these players will not be at the game on Thursday, and the club makes their decision. He also promised to support athletes who did not want to give up their convictions.

In addition, Hasler apologized to the LGBTQ community.

The Australian Rugby League commented on the situation and said they understand the choice of players based on religious and cultural differences. And they added that they don’t care about skin color, sexual orientation or race.

Former striker Ian Roberts, who in the 1990s became the first known rugby league player to come forward as gay, said he was not surprised by the players’ decision.

“It didn’t shock me as much as it shocks everyone else. As a gay old man, I’m used to it. I expected there to be some kind of religious protest,” he said.

The rules do not allow seven players to wear a different jersey without rainbow stripes, because all rugby players on a team are required to have the same stripe.