The Wallabies superstar has been previously warned about his homophobic social media posts. He will now be unable to compete for Australia in the upcoming Rugby World Cup.
Image: Imago Images/Aflosport/J. Tsukida
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Rugby Australia (RA) has formally begun the process of sacking fullback Israel Folau over an anti-gay rant he left on social media.
"The Rugby Australia Integrity Unit deemed that Folau had committed a high-level breach of the Professional Players' Code of Conduct warranting the termination of his employment contract," RA said in a statement on its website. "Folau has 48 hours to accept the sanction or have the matter referred to a Code of Conduct hearing."
"We appreciate this matter will attract significant interest but due process must be followed," the statement added.
Folau currently plays for the New South Wales Waratahs in Super Rugby, a rugby union competition involving teams from Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, South Africa and Japan. He has won Australian player of the year a record three times, and would have been a key member of his national squad, nicknamed the Wallabies, at the Rugby World Cup in Japan in the fall.
History of homophobic rants
Last week, Folau, 30, posted on Instagram that "hell awaits" people who are "drunks, homosexuals, adulterers."
Earlier that day, after Tasmania became the first state in Australia to make gender optional on birth certificates, Folau wrote on Twitter that "the devil has blinded so many people."
A Christian fundamentalist, Folau had previously been warned over a series of homophobic posts. Last year, to the ire of RA's corporate sponsors, Folau wrote on social media that "God's plan for gay people was HELL."
On Sunday, he told the Sydney Morning Herald that it would be "God's will" if he never played rugby again.
"First and foremost, I live for God now," he said. "Whatever He wants me to do, I believe His plans for me are better than whatever I can think. If that's not to continue on playing, so be it."
Out of Rugby World Cup
The seemingly inevitable termination of his contract leaves Folau unable to return to the rugby union, though he could potentially return to the rugby league or Australian rules football.
On Monday, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said he would not have been able to select Folau after his latest "disrespectful" social media posts, even if the 30-year-old hadn't been sacked.
"We've had the discussion about it after the last time about his right to believe and our support in that," Chieka told reporters. "But getting out in that disrespectful manner publicly is not what our team's about."
Cheika said he felt the need to talk to Falou "about why," but he has not had the opportunity to do so yet.
The sporting year 2019: What we can look forward to
With no men's football World Cup or European Championship taking place in 2019, female athletes and other sports will have a greater chance to grab the headlines. Here are the events to watch out for in the coming year.
Image: Picture-Alliance/dpa/M. Murat
Handball World Cup
For the first time, the Handball World Cup will be hosted in two nations, with Germany and Denmark doing the honors (January 10-27). Back in 2007, Germany's national team had the nation gripped with handball fever after winning the title in front of a home crowd. Can they do it again?
Image: Reuters/C. Platiau
Super Bowl LIII
The first Sunday in February means only one thing to many sports fans: Super Bowl time. The grand finale of the NFL season was watched by close to a billion people across the globe in 2018, as Philadelphia Eagles flipped the script to beat hot favorites New England Patriots. Who'll take the crown in 2019?
Image: USA TODAY Sports/W. Townson
Alpine Skiing World Cup
The creme de la creme of world skiing go toe to toe in February 2019 (5-17), with the Swedish city of Are tasked with hosting the event. Particular focus will be on the downhill, considered the most important of all the skiing disciplines. Competitors reach speeds of up to 140 kph en route to the finish line. Two years ago, Felix Neureuther won bronze in the Slalom to claim Germany's only medal.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/J.-C. Bott
Biathlon World Cup
Six disciplines, six medals, five golds: Laura Dahlmeier (right) became the most successful competitor ever at a single World Cup when she bossed the slopes back in 2016. She's been forced to take some time out this season due to health reasons, but she's expected to return to fitness in time for the Östersund edition in March (7-13).
Image: Reuters/L. Foeger
Ice Hockey World Cup
Guess who the favorites are! If you said anything other than Canada, Russia or Sweden, you need to brush up on your winter sports. The hockey juggernauts look set to battle it out for the crown again, but could slip up against the Czechs, touted as dark horses for this year's tournament, to be held from May10-26 in Bratislava and Kosice in Slovakia.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Becker
Champions League final
Real Madrid. Real Madrid. Real Madrid. The Spanish giants have lifted the past three European titles and would relish making it four in the Wanda Metropolitano, home to local rivals Atletico Madrid. Three German teams remain in the competition - Bayern Munich, Dortmund and Schalke - but do they have what it takes to lift the title on June 1?
Image: Imago/Bildbyran/v. Wivestad Grott
FIFA Women's World Cup
Germany's women's team have twice lifted the World Cup, but their last triumph came way back in 2007. Following a disastrous Euro 2017, in which they failed to make it out of their group, a new coach, Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, is tasked with bringing through the next generation of talent. Title holders USA are favorites for next summer's tournament, which is to be hosted by France.
Image: picture alliance/AP Photo/N. K. Murray
European Athletics Championships
50 nations compete across 21 disciplines, with everything from javelin to sambo included on the bill. July (14-30) sees Minsk play host to the second edition of the championships. The first was held in Baku in 2015. Question marks over Belalrus's suitability as a host nation have been raised, owing to a patchy human rights record, but when has that ever stopped an Olympic Committee?
Image: Reuters/S. Nenov
Tour de France
The 106th edition of the world's most famous bike race should provide the usual thrills: farmers protests, accusations of doping and the wait to find out which member of Team Sky wins the Yellow Jersey. The first stage will start in Brussels on July 6, after six of the previous seven started in Britain.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/G. Breloer
Rugby World Cup
One of the biggest events on the world sporting calendar, and Germany very nearly made it this time! The defending champions, New Zealand, are hot favorites to lift the title again when the tournament kicks off in Japan in the autumn.
Image: Reuters/H. Browne
Athletics World Championships
Everybody knows Qatar are gearing up to host the 2022 World Cup. Fewer people know they're also hosting the 2019 Athletics World Championships. Due to the heat, the marathon will be held during the night. "It's all very new and exciting," said Seb Coe, President of the IAAF. Try telling that to the runners!
