Fiji star reportedly racially abused after red card for ‘cheap shot’

[jargan83]

Fijian Drua scrum-half Frank Lomani allegedly received racial abuse during the Super Rugby Pacific match against the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday.

The 27-year-old’s game was cut short when referee Damon Murphy issued a red card for Lomani’s elbow to the back of the head of Rebels lock Josh Canham.

Lomani’s red card

Lomani has received major backlash for lashing out at Canham with many highlighting that even in combat sports his actions are illegal.

Referee Murphy needed just one replay to decide whether to red card the scrum-half, who represented Fiji at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and duly gave him his marching orders.

Lomani pleaded to the referee that he was trying “to swat him off” and was not pleased with the decision.

As he returned to the bench and looked to take his seat, the broadcast caught Lomani angrily reacting to something he heard from the stands.

He shot to his feet and threw his chair before being ushered away before things further escalated.

Reported racial abuse

Following the match, footage has emerged of a Melbourne Rebels supporter being escorted out of the stands after reportedly racially abusing Lomani.

In a video circulating on social media, a man in a Rebels jersey is seen arguing with surrounding fans after reportedly hurling racial slurs at Lomani.

Fans have reported that the man shouted “Black c**t!” at Lomani, and when he reacted, he added: “You want to break a chair that you can’t pay for?”

Neisau Tuidraki was a supporter who witnessed what unfolded and the following snippets were taken from her thread on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

Absolutely disgusted with a group of Rebel supporters who threw racial slurs at Frank Lomani tonight,” she wrote.

“While the Rebels rolling mauls were slaughtering our Drua boys in the second half, Frank Lomani was red carded when he elbowed a Rebel player. Lomani absolutely deserved that.

“So when Frank came off they proceeded to scream at him ‘F@$k off’ and then the cherry on top ‘black c@nt’.

AAMI security were hopeless, the Drua supporters asked security to eject them all but honestly, I am mind blown at the caucasity of these supporters that thought they could swear like that at Lomani with Drua supporters to the front, back, left and right and get away with it.

“The Rebel supporters around us were embarrassed and it put a sour taste to the end of the night.”

The Melbourne Rebels are yet to comment on the incident.

I'm https://www.planetrugby.com/news/black-ct-fiji-star-reportedly-racially-abused-after-red-card-for-cheap-shot

[GIGS20]

My take

She seems to be complaining about ALL the abuse thrown at Lomani, not just the racial part.

He acted like a c@nt, he deserves to be called that. He can't help that he's black.

[Burgs]

Can't help thinking this card would have been nipped in the bud if he got a deserved Yellow last week for grabbing White by the throat.

[shasta]

My take

She seems to be complaining about ALL the abuse thrown at Lomani, not just the racial part.

He acted like a c@nt, he deserves to be called that. He can't help that he's black.

Sorry GIGS but I don't believe that kind of insult can be mitigated in any way by looking at the separate meanings or usages of the words. That conduct is intentionally racist & offensive. Worst of all it can be very hurtful & possibly psychologically damaging to the victims. I fkn hat it with a passion.

[GIGS20]

Sorry GIGS but I don't believe that kind of insult can be mitigated in any way by looking at the separate meanings or usages of the words. That conduct is intentionally racist & offensive. Worst of all it can be very hurtful & possibly psychologically damaging to the victims. I fkn hat it with a passion.

You seem to think I was excusing the racism.I wanna go on the record clarifying that was not what I was saying.But he did act like an arsehole.I'm ok with him getting shot for acting like an arseholeI'm not ok with him getting shot because of his race.

[shasta]

You seem to think I was excusing the racism.

It came across that way - to me anyway. But I see what you're saying. Also for the record I don't like to see people hurling abuse at players either. Fortunately it doesn't happen very often at Rugby matches.

[GIGS20]

It came across that way - to me anyway. But I see what you're saying. Also for the record I don't like to see people hurling abuse at players either. Fortunately it doesn't happen very often at Rugby matches.

Generally agreed on the not abusing players, but a deliberate elbow to the back of the head is a dog act and I probably would have shouted something.

[The InnFORCEr]

Lomani hit with six-game ban for shocking Rebels elbow
Alex Mitchell
AAP
April 10, 2024 8:42AM


Melbourne Rebels halfback Frank Lomani has been slapped with a six-game ban for his shocking elbow against his former side at the weekend.

The Fijian Drua No.9 was red carded for his strike on Melbourne lock Josh Canham during the Rebels' 41-20 win at AAMI Park on Friday night.

The Super Rugby Pacific Foul Play Review Committee said Lomani would have been hit with an even larger suspension but for his guilty plea.

"The entry point for the offence was 10 weeks, assessed as top-end range for intentional and deliberate physical abuse of striking with an elbow to the back of the victim player's head and causing injury," their statement read.

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"The victim player was in an incredibly vulnerable position with limited ability, if any, to defend himself.

"The player was given a discount for entering an early guilty plea and other relevant mitigating factors.

"In providing the player the sanction, the committee emphasised that this sort of incident is not tolerated in any form of the game."

Lomani played 27 games for the Rebels between 2020 and 2021.

His teammate Jone Koroiduadua, who was also sent off for a headbutt, received a two-game ban with the committee finding "limited contact with the head".

Ironically, the next match Lomani is available for is the Drua hosting the Rebels in Fiji in the last round of the regular season.

https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/ru...bow-c-14257463

[The InnFORCEr]

His teammate Jone Koroiduadua, who was also sent off for a headbutt, received a two-game ban with the committee finding "limited contact with the head".


https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/ru...bow-c-14257463

I don't think the punishment fits the crime with this one....

[GIGS20]

I don't think the punishment fits the crime with this one....

It seems that the immediate red card for "direct head contact" by accident when making a tackle triggering a 4 week suspension (Marley Pearce anyone) is a different standard than that applied when headbutting an opponent deliberately in a fit of rage.

[Burgs]

I don't think the punishment fits the crime with this one....

Absolute farce.
Pearce must be bewildered...