Salford rugby league player charged with racially abusing Toronto Wolfpack prop
TORONTO — A Salford player has been charged with making a racial slur during the Red Devils’ win over the Toronto Wolfpack in Sunday’s fifth-round Ladbrokes Challenge Cup match.
Salford’s Justin Carney was sent off in the 26th minute of Salford’s 29-22 rugby league win over Toronto. The alleged abuse was against veteran prop Ryan Bailey.
“Justin Carney is a really good player,” said Toronto coach Paul Rowley. “I’ll never defend that sort of behaviour but … it’s really easy watching a game of rugby to just see 13 players against 13. But they never know what’s gone on in that person’s life in the buildup to a game.”
“It’s a reactive thing,” he added. “I don’t think for one minute that Justin Carney is a racist. He’s got a black father so he’s not racist. Ryan Bailey knows him. There’s no drama there. So whilst we won’t defend him, we certainly won’t condemn him either. We’d rather support (him) and find out if there’s a deep-rooted problem that made him react in that manner.