It's a tough one. Most teams I have been at have been strongly inclusive. The message was

that you can believe what you want, but don't get opinionated in public as it paints the team with the same brush and also divides the fanbase. Therefore you could be kicked out (or fired, depending on the level) for publicly sharing views which were offensive to anybody. The message always had to be about the sport and that was it.

I would have first reminded him of this and then administered a fine conditional of him making an apology. If he made no apology, then it is possible that he could have been kicked out. Perhaps this is what happened.

To be honest it is only really implemented at the higher levels. If every time I saw an anti-gay or anti-muslim (for example) sentiment expressed by a player of mine on Facebook (in the lower levels) I had to kick them out then I'd probably have seen every club fold due to lack of players. Conversely when you're at semi-pro or higher and fans start following your social media, it is understood that you do not express political, religious or social beliefs on social media. For example, I have shared a few Brexit posts myself, but even that will now cease as I am now coaching a team in the UK.

The irony is that by being inclusive, you're also including people who are not tolerant, so the only way to avoid these situations is to set down clear behavioural guidelines and hold them to it.

Posted By: Steve in Holland on April 13th 2019 at 11:54:09

Message Thread

If one of our players turned out to be Catholic (NCFC) - paulg, Apr 13, 10:27:03
- In this world everyone thinks they are right.... (NCFC) - usacanary, Apr 13, 15:00:17
- Make him watch Wizard of Oz and Ru Paul's Drag Race (NCFC) - inutero, Apr 13, 11:58:57
- why not go to the top .... ask delia (NCFC) - ghostof barry butler, Apr 13, 11:54:17
- Send them to Pisswich Down on a free. That’ll learn em! (n/m) (NCFC) - essexcanaryOTBC, Apr 13, 11:48:13
- Hell will be full of ex priests then (n/m) (NCFC) - Augustus Pablo, Apr 13, 11:09:21
  - And anybody in the late shift on the Wrath (n/m) (NCFC) - Steve in Holland, Apr 13, 11:26:20
- Apologise for being Catholic or for answering the question? (n/m) (NCFC) - paulg, Apr 13, 10:39:42
- Invest in better media training? (NCFC) - CWC, Apr 13, 10:39:00
  - Why straw man? (NCFC) - paulg, Apr 13, 10:47:02
    - Read up on it then. Is not really in the same category as your example... (NCFC) - Steve in Holland, Apr 13, 11:26:00
      - I didn't say it was in the same category (NCFC) - paulg, Apr 13, 11:34:28
        
        It's a tough one. Most teams I have been at have been strongly inclusive. The message was (NCFC) - Steve in Holland, Apr 13, 11:54:09
        
        Note though that Folau willingly shared this tweet. It's different to the situation you (NCFC) - Steve in Holland, Apr 13, 12:06:22
        
        This isn't his first offence either (n/m) (NCFC) - earlydoors, Apr 13, 12:19:32
- Tell him to apologise (NCFC) - Kangol Canary, Apr 13, 10:35:00

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