Champion netball player Maria Folau, the wife of rugby player Israel Folau, has rejected an offer to continue playing for Adelaide team The Thunderbirds. Her rejection of a new contract has triggered claims of discrimination among conservative commentators.

The 32 year old player has reportedly turned down a new contract with the club and won’t play in the upcoming super-netball season.

Folau’s husband Israel Folau was fired from Australia’s rugby team after he posted several social media posts that were critical of homosexuals and other members of society that the religious player saw as “sinners”.

He is currently taking legal action against Rugby Australia claiming $10million in lost earnings. Maria Folau has publicly stated that she supports her husband’s beliefs and one of netball’s big sponsors the ANZ bank has made statements rejecting her position, but Netball Australia came to the player’s defence saying that while they did not share her husband’s views, she had not broken their social media code.

Conservative commentator Paul Murray on Sky News said that while there no information on why Folau had decided to leave the team, it would be a concern if it was because of her religious beliefs.

OIP Staff