Bachar Houli outrage over suspension only matched by affront over Richmond’s defenceJon Ralph,
Herald Sun
28 June 2017BACHAR Houli isn’t using the race card by saying he is a peaceful person who never meant to hurt Jed Lamb.
And Richmond shouldn’t have to apologise for putting on the full court press to defend their star defender.
The AFL tribunal last night made a bizarre, nonsensical decision that the AFL has decided to appeal.
But somewhere along the way the football community has become outraged at Richmond’s defence as much as the tribunal decision itself.
If you invented the kind of issue likely to enrage the lunatic fringe as well as those who thrive on outrage, it is this one.
A football club enlisting polarising TV figure Waleed Aly and using the testimony of unpopular prime minister Malcolm Turnbull to help minimise a suspension for a brutal hit that concussed a rival.
Especially when Houli said as part of his religion he was a peaceful person not prone to violence.
To be accurate, Richmond tendered detailed character references from Aly and former assistant Mark Williams.
Then used that day’s comments from Malcolm Turnbull at a funding press conference for Houli’s programs to support their case.
But when hasn’t a football club used every possible avenue to minimise a suspension or even see their player escape any penalty?
Western Bulldogs ruckman Luke Darcy was the past master of tribunal performances.
He stood in front of the tribunal and spoke of how he was affronted to be cited and believed it was a stain on his character.
And by the way, your honour, if you could make the ruling quick smart because I don’t want a late night.
The tribunal mostly ruled in his favour as Darcy brilliantly used the system in his favour.
Richmond just used a different version of that technique.
Let’s get this straight: your five-year-old kid currently running around in Auskick knows more about footy than Malcolm Turnbull.
But quite clearly Richmond’s approach worked as the AFL tribunal consisting of Wayne “Moose” Henwood, David Neitz and Hamish McIntosh gave him a two-week discount.
They said “it is very rare that we come across an example of such a fine character ... and on that basis it’s a two-week penalty.”
Bachar Houli leaves the AFL tribunal after receiving a two-week suspension for striking Jed Lamb. Picture: Getty Images
What nonsense.
Players are often given discounts for good records and fine character, but the penalty should have been cut from four weeks to three at most.
Halving a suspension from four weeks to two is utter madness.
A two-week suspension is exactly what West Coast’s Will Schofield would have received if he failed to overturn his strike on Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver.
The image of both Houli and Schofield potentially receiving identical penalties on the night should have been enough to make the tribunal realise their error.
Especially when Toby Greene was handed a two-week suspension earlier in the year for a clumsy hit on Caleb Daniel many thought was an attempt to spoil.
What has got many hot under the collar is Houli’s use of religion to defend himself.
Houli told the tribunal of his strike, “It’s something I have never ever done in my life and something I would never ever do. It’s part of my practice in my religion.
“I am a peaceful person. I am proud of how I have conducted myself.”
Again, Houli spoke from the heart just as he had done in immediately contacting Jed Lamb to apologise.
Some commentators desperate for attention and keen to whip up confected outrage will turn that sentence into something it isn’t.
It’s hard to argue there is a more solid citizen than Houli in the AFL or a better role model who has done more for a faith that is being questioned by many Australians.
But it was up to the tribunal to see that religion wasn’t a factor in this decision.
Muslim or Christian or Athiest, if you whack a bloke in the head hard enough to concussion him badly, you can’t only serve a two-week suspension.
Kudos to Richmond for using every available avenue to get their star defender back as quickly as possible.
Now after the tribunal made a total balls-up of that decision it is time for the AFL to come in and clean up the mess.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/why-is-the-football-community-so-outraged-at-richmonds-defence-of-bachar-houli/news-story/76caa8084638cbe849a5dfc508d8847e
