Moderator: Moderators
Legally I doubt if that's true. You could get into trouble for incitementmikerob wrote:
Anyone is perfectly entitled to express the opinion that Franno should be fired - for whatever reason they like.
He's not great by any means.mikerob wrote: And there is plenty of justification why he should be fired, even before his latest drivellings.
Gareth Thomas is a better example, always thought Donal óg a whining git.Shan wrote:Py- I wonder what the Cork legend Donal Óg Cusack would have to say about this shíte. I'd love for Francis to suggest he is not manly enough to play sport. He'd probably get a well needed whack of the hurley.
I think you will find that to be the universally accepted view of a guy who was such a prodigiously talented athlete yet invariably delivered the absolute minimum to ensure he was selected for Ireland. Could have been a giant of the game, but instead developed ruck inspecting into an exact science. Tony Copsey doesn’t have much to commend him, but that was a cracking slap he gave Franno.BaggyTrousers wrote:I have an opinion that Francis was a lazy cowardly rugby player with the attributes to have done much better than he did but not the character to do so.
Until now that was a privately held opinion but hey I claim freedom speech as my overriding right to say anything defamatory I like without fear of retribution.
G'wan Nige get stuck in Glad to hear it Shammy, all will be well come the revolution.shamalicious wrote:Baggy, I think you and I are on a similar wavelength about most things political/ idealogical, including this. :thumbleft:
NeilF, fair points well made as usual.
Oh well, that's fine thenpythagoras wrote:Just listened to the trial of Neil Francis on the Matt Cooper show.
I hadn't heard his remarks before and they were stupid, old fashioned and stereotypical.
Matt was horrified and offended by them in the extreme and gave Neil (big an all though he is) a good dressing down.
Neil was very humble and apologetic throughout.
He brought up past good deeds to be taken into account by His Honor
Nigel Owens was his usual impressive self as expert witness on the effects of such remarks.
Finally the noble Lord passed judgement, he accepted Neil's apology as genuine but
indicated that Neil was on probation from now on.
And ah that was it.
Aye, fairly contrite little man............NOW......once he realises the depth of the bottomlessBaggyTrousers wrote:Oh well, that's fine thenpythagoras wrote:Just listened to the trial of Neil Francis on the Matt Cooper show.
I hadn't heard his remarks before and they were stupid, old fashioned and stereotypical.
Matt was horrified and offended by them in the extreme and gave Neil (big an all though he is) a good dressing down.
Neil was very humble and apologetic throughout.
He brought up past good deeds to be taken into account by His Honor
Nigel Owens was his usual impressive self as expert witness on the effects of such remarks.
Finally the noble Lord passed judgement, he accepted Neil's apology as genuine but
indicated that Neil was on probation from now on.
And ah that was it.
So as many damn few people will have heard his alleged contrition, I have this nasty feeling that the only thing he is sorry about is the reaction, which he had clearly not expected - arsewipe.
NEIL FRANCIS HAS apologised for the comments he made yesterday evening about gay people in sport.
Speaking on Today FM’s The Last Word with Matt Cooper, the former Ireland international said:
“On reflection, I would like to withdraw those comments and apologise profusely and unreservedly for any issue for anybody who heard them or felt offence from what I said.”
Host Matt Cooper opened the segment of the show with a statement expressing his displeasure at Francis’ words, labeling them “highly offensive and downright stupid.” The broadcaster then went on to play a recording of Dale Hansen’s speech in support of Michael Sam.
When asked to reflect on the comments he had made on Newstalk’s Off the Ball, Francis admitted that they were “clumsily made” points, with “poorly expressed” analogies.
“When I got home, I had a listen to the interview again and I must say it didn’t sound like me at all,” he stated. “A lot of people who listened to it said ‘that’s not your form’. I realise I was in a field of landmines and I stood on one or two.
“On reflection I said the wrong things and some of the things I said were extremely clumsy.”
International rugby referee Nigel Owens, who has been openly gay for nine years, was also a guest of the show and underlined that he hopes Francis’ apology was genuine.
“Yes, its good that he’s been able to go back and reflect on what he’s said. We all make mistakes in our lives, I have made mistakes on the field. As long as they’re from the heart and I hope that Neil’s apologies are genuine and from the heart, and not something that’s been pressured.”
Asked by Cooper if his apology was indeed genuine, Francis replied: “I say what I mean, and I wouldn’t say this unless I meant it.”
Francis went on to outline his involvement in aiding the process of a rugby player coming out in the past through an article in the Sunday Tribune, as well as his interaction with the Emerald Warriors rugby club.
Having labeled Michael Sam as “flamboyant” yesterday, Francis also stressed his belief that the young American football player could be an “icon” for the gay community.
“That was badly expressed and really what I’m saying is that this guy can be an icon for the gay community. He has made a move which is almost unprecedented in the United States.”
Owens went on to detail that despite the apology from Francis, comments like the ones he made yesterday can put people in “difficult situations”.
Cooper concluded the discussion by telling Francis, “I accept your apology as genuinely offered, and I hope that people do accept it as well.”
