Rory McLeod's discriminatory behaviour

[ICWiener]

Hi everyone,

As many of you may know, Rory McLeod, who beat Trump in yesterday's WC match, has stirred up quite a bit of controversy by refusing to shake hands with the female referre before and after the match. His reason for doing so was based on his Muslim religious beliefs.

Given that snooker has always tried its best to be an example of sportsmanship and polite, respectful human behaviour, I find it very odd to say the least that it is looking the other way in this openly discriminatory situation. Of course, such issues related to religion and personal belief are highly sensitive topics, but there has to be a line drawn somewhere. And in my opinion, belittling a female referre in such a way is, to me, disgusting.

Furthermore, I am quite certain that the WSL Player's Contract contains a clause preventing players from engaging in open discriminatory behaviour (I am just guessing here since I have never seen such a contract, but would find it natural to include such a clause), yet I do not see any reaction from the snooker "officials" that responds adequately to such unacceptable behaviour. Trump gets fined for refusing to give an interview, but McLeod gets away with belittling women on live TV?

What are your thoughts/opinions about this? Should WS respond to this? If so, how? I personally believe that if we look the other way on such issues, we are willingly allowing unaccpetable behaviour into a sport that I think has paved the way of respect, politeness and professionalism for many so years.

Thanks.

[jonny66]

This has been done to death.

[thai_son22]

offence can be taken in this case but wasn't made.

it is clear it is a religious thing and not to belittle.

however, you have a right to take that stand point if you wish.

it's only unacceptable if you wish to take it that way considering that it is a religious constraint.

[DeanH]

Instead of shaking a female referee's hand, as per his beliefs, both look at each other, Rory places a hand over his heart and give the referee a definite nod of the head, the referee returns with a nod of the head as acknowledgement.

This has been agreed with Rory, WS, WPBSA, and the Referee association (and I am sure a few other interested parties) a few years ago.
Unfortunately the cameras hardly ever catch it.

He is not discriminating the female referees, instead (I think) giving them an extra bit of respect, that a hand shake does not necessarily give to the male referees as it is custom, so is he discriminating against the male referees?


Look at the start of the last session of their match, a clear defined look and acknowledgement of mutual respect:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-oLYWZTPW4
At the very end as Trump walks off you can just see Rory's right hand going up to his chest, but you don't actually catch it all.

[DeanH]

This has been done to death.

+1

.......

[vmax4steve]

Is it religious or cultural ?
Many so called islamic traditions don't come from the Q'ran at all and in fact pre date islam by many hundreds of years, the veiling of women for example and the wearing of silly hats

[DeanH]

Rory McLeod's discriminatory behaviour

is shaking hands religious or cultural?

[ace man]

I hear you, but Rory didn't actually hurt that woman referee in any way. At least we didn't hear about any complains from women referees, did we? What he did was hurt his own reputation. Again.
Should WS penalize him because of what he's doing, then this could be interpreted as restricting religious freedom...etc. Better not open that can of worms. I don't think WS should do anything about it.

[jrc750]

As Dean said its already been discussed with the people at the top, so why drag it up ?

[GeordieDS]

Shaking hands is such a false thing anyway it should be abolished

[itsnoteasy]

Is it religious or cultural ?
Many so called islamic traditions don't come from the Q'ran at all and in fact pre date islam by many hundreds of years, the veiling of women for example and the wearing of silly hats

To be fair all the main religions like a funny hat, and the more godly you are the funnier the hat God must be a bit of a hat man.

[the lone wolf]

+1

.......

+2 :snooker:

[warren132]

So why was it ok for him to shake Hazel Irvines hand in the studio after his match ? seems a bid odd to me..

[DeanH]

So why was it ok for him to shake Hazel Irvines hand in the studio after his match ? seems a bid odd to me..

Same here...
I think he was so hyper from the win he forgot....
Missed it myself but haho

[Bigmeek]

So why was it ok for him to shake Hazel Irvines hand in the studio after his match ? seems a bid odd to me..

I was wondering that myself. Bit strange.