{"id":22859,"date":"2024-03-04T13:13:07","date_gmt":"2024-03-04T18:13:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/nrl-player-ezra-mam-accuses-opponent-spencer-leniu-of-using-racial-slur-during-game-in-las-vegas-rugby-league-news\/04\/03\/2024\/"},"modified":"2024-03-04T13:13:07","modified_gmt":"2024-03-04T18:13:07","slug":"nrl-player-ezra-mam-accuses-opponent-spencer-leniu-of-using-racial-slur-during-game-in-las-vegas-rugby-league-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/nrl-player-ezra-mam-accuses-opponent-spencer-leniu-of-using-racial-slur-during-game-in-las-vegas-rugby-league-news\/04\/03\/2024\/","title":{"rendered":"NRL player Ezra Mam accuses opponent Spencer Leniu of using racial slur during game in Las Vegas | Rugby League News"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Brisbane Broncos’ Ezra Mam has accused Sydney Roosters’ Spencer Leniu of using a racial slur towards him during an NRL game in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n
Mam, an Indigenous Australian, complained to the referee during Broncos’ 20-10 defeat at Allegiant Stadium, with the NRL now investigating the claim.<\/p>\n
Leniu has been charged with breaking the NRL’s behaviour code and will face a judiciary panel, which can make sanctions such as fines and match suspensions.<\/p>\n
Samoa international Leniu was told about the allegation during the game by referee Adam Gee and said, “why would I say that?” after being placed on report.<\/p>\n
When asked about the incident in a radio interview after the game, Leniu said “nothing” happened, adding: “It’s all just fun and games on the field”.<\/p>\n
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<\/div>\n Image:<\/span> \n Leniu said ‘nothing’ had happened when asked about the accusation after the game in Las Vegas \n <\/span> \n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Broncos players reportedly confronted Leniu at the team hotel after the match when words were exchanged.<\/p>\n
Brisbane coach Kevin Walters said Mam was “adamant” about what he heard, saying: “Ezra is pretty upset, we will leave that in the hands of the NRL to police and adjudicate on.”<\/p>\n
Brisbane’s Reece Walsh told Channel Nine<\/em>: “It’s disgusting we still have that stuff in our game, and I really feel for one of my good mates. For that stuff to happen, it just takes the shine off us trying to build something over here.”<\/p>\n
“It was really disappointing to be talking about something of this nature,” NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo told AAP<\/em>. “There is no place for discrimination of any kind. We take it very, very seriously.<\/p>\n
“I can’t talk about the specifics of what happened. The player involved has been charged and then referred directly to the judiciary. We will respect that process and won’t make comments.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n