The rugby director of the Fiji Rugby League was fired for four days in her new position because the women's team had a "gay problem".

Laijipa Naulivou was named to the top spot on Saturday but was criticized for commenting that “lesbians” caused a rift in the Fiji women’s team, causing the team to perform poorly at last year’s Paris Olympics.

Fiji won a bronze medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, but they failed to reach the podium after being eliminated on the group stage at the Olympics last summer. Pacific Islanders ranked last among 12 competing countries.

In an interview Fiji Sun After the FRU announced the appointment, Naulivou said she had previously asked the women's coach to be removed from office and set up a group member to choose the women's team, rather than "a people who practice lesbians and choose her people there. For me , this is immoral, this is wrong."

She also controversially claimed that homosexual player relationships were "a big drawback" when the Fiji women's team participated in the previous seven-man championship and claimed that "this gay problem" was affecting players retention in other European countries.

The FRU announced on Wednesday that it had immediately terminated Naulivou's contract, adding that the union did not share her views and explicitly rejected all forms of discrimination.

"Our women's team and all players can rest assured that this will never affect their opportunity, representation and continued development as an indispensable member of Fiji rugby," FRU said. "() FRU remains firmly sure to ensure that Fiji Rugby provides a supportive, inclusive and enhanced environment Vuvale (Family), regardless of gender, background or identity. ”

Players "slept on the bench"

The Fiji Women's Rights Movement said Naulivou's speech was "shocked".

"It's a disturbing and disturbing idea to be gay in women's rugby and makes harmful stereotypes," said Nalini Singh, executive director of the group. Perpetually, without a place in modern sports or society. "The women's team spent one night on a bench outside the Sydney airport on their way to the Dubai Seven Championship in 2023, while the men's team slept in a nearby hotel.

“Instead of focusing on the players’ sexual behavior, do your own job, find enough funds and provide the well-being of female rugby players so they don’t have to sleep on the bench in front of the airport for training for miles,” she said. Added.

Naulivou is an outstanding figure in the Fiji rugby scene, he is the first captain in the women's nationality and a strong advocate for gender in the male-dominated movement.

FRU confirmed that she had tried to resign after widespread opposition to her inflammatory comments but decided that “a firm stance was to strengthen her necessary attitude to upholding professional standards and upholding Fiji rugby integrity”, which led to her sack .

The union added that it is undertaking a “strict and transparent selection process” to appoint new directors for football.

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