Israel Folau Go Fund Me taken down | Rugby star's page breached terms, donors refunded - Wide World of Sports

Israel Folau's controversial $3 million Go Fund Me page has been taken down and all donors will be refunded, according to the website, after the sacked rugby star breached their conditions.

A statement from Go Fund Me Australia's country manager, Nicola Britton, said that the fundraising website did not support Folau's anti-gay religious views.

"Today we will be closing Israel Folau's campaign and issuing full refunds to all donors," Britton said.

"After a period of evaluation, we have concluded that this campaign violates our terms of service.

"As a company, we are absolutely committed to the fight for LGBTQI+ people and fostering an environment of inclusivity. While we welcome Go Fund Me's engaging in diverse civil debate, we do not tolerate the promotion of discrimination and exclusion."

Folau has so far stayed silent and Prime Minister Scott Morrison, a devout Christian, declined to comment; saying that the furore had "had enough oxygen". A key Folau backer, Australian Christian Lobby managing director Martyn Isles, said that his organisation was working against Go Fund Me's decision and that a media blitz was planned.

"Yes, GoFundMe has pulled the page. People are actively working on a solution," Isles wrote on Facebook, adding that "things are completely insane at my end".

"I will be on Channel 9, SBS, 2GB and ABC this afternoon. Appreciate your prayers."

Folau was rapidly approaching $1 million in donations, with a goal of $3 million. About 9,000 donors had contributed to his "legal action fund"; more than $700,000 will be refunded.

The fund was intended for a legal challenge to Rugby Australia's decision to sack him from his $5 million contract, for making homophobic and transphobic comments on social media. Folau is seeking a $10 million payout.

Folau's Go Fund Me page has now been taken down and exists only as a dead link.

Go Fund Me's terms and conditions make clear that the company reserves the right to remove campaigns which promote discrimination; although such action is taken in the case of "alleged crimes", of which Folau has not been accused.

Clause 8 reads: "...campaigns we deem, at our sole discretion, to be in support of, or for the legal defence of alleged crimes associated with hate, violence, harassment, discrimination, terrorism or intolerance of any kind relating to race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, sex, gender or gender identity or serious disabilities of diseases."

Folau launches crowdfunding campaign

The hardline Christian, who is a multi-millionaire with a $7 million property portfolio and who recently sold a $500,000 Lamborghini, will have to find another source of funding.

In launching his Go Fund Me bid, Folau said that he had spent more than $100,000 of his savings in his legal challenge against Rugby Australia. He was contracted to make more than $1 million per season from Rugby Australia under his terminated contract and has earned millions of dollars across three professional sports: rugby league, AFL and rugby.

Folau, 30, has backing from a raft of conservative figures and institutions, such as former Wallabies coach Alan Jones and the Australian Christian Lobby.

Folau's wife, New Zealand and Adelaide Thunderbirds netball star Maria Folau, is in hot water for supporting her husband's Go Fund Me bid.

Former Australian captain Liz Ellis slammed a decision from Netball Australia and Super Netball that Maria Folau should not be sanctioned for her support, suggesting that her views did not belong in the sport.

Former Wallaby Peter FitzSimons on Sunday declared that Folau had completely eroded his support by seeking Go Fund Me donors. The site is often used for grave causes, such as funding critical operations for sick children.

"People say Australia was divided and I think there's some truth in that. Folau probably had 30 per cent support. I think after this Go Fund Me, most of Australia went, 'What? Seriously?'" FitzSimons said on Sports Sunday.

"That's not what Go Fund Me is for. Go Fund Me is for worthy causes where the people need money and they can't support it, so they approach the community and they say, 'Listen I've got nothing in my pockets, I've got a tumour, can you help me?' And people say, 'That's a really good thing to do', so they do it.

"I think he's lost the dressing room. He's lost the Australian dressing room on this."

Folau was slammed by a former Wallabies teammate, Drew Mitchell, after launching his Go Fund Me campaign. Mitchell took issue with Folau presenting himself as a victim of discrimination.

However, Isles, said that Folau's case had struck a chord with people who were worried about religious freedoms and freedom of speech. Isles said that he was among those financially supporting Folau.

"Israel Folau has today been accused of greed, playing the victim, and being in a conflict of his own making. All three accusations are false," Isles wrote on Facebook.

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