Toowoomba rugby league club investigates Mad Monday ‘blackface’ team photo after furious backlash

A football club in Queensland is under investigation after a Mad Monday’s team photo was posted online featuring players dressed as Michael Jordan and Usain Bolt.

The image, which showed representatives of the Highfields Eagles Rugby League Club in Toowoomba, appeared on the club’s Facebook page.

It was quickly removed after community response.

“The club is aware of the image and allegations and is in talks with Toowoomba Rugby League to discuss the appropriate course of action,” said a spokesperson for Highfields Eagles.

Toowoomba Rugby League (TRL) chairman Joe Hannant confirmed the incident is under investigation.

“The TRL has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to inappropriate behavior of any kind,” he said.

“We are aware of this alleged incident and have launched an investigation.

“We are currently in the process of collecting all the necessary information to best determine what to do.”

The Brothers Rugby League club president and Lizzie Adams, leader of the South West Queensland Indigenous Community, condemned the alleged use of blackface by the Eagles players.

Ms Adams, who has led a campaign this year to stamp out racist behavior in the community, was shocked by the incident.

“I really don’t know what to say anymore,” Mrs. Adams told the… Toowoomba Chronicle.

“With everything that’s happened lately, if you look and think about the current environment, how come?

Michael Jordan is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, after a stellar career in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls

Jamaican track star Usain Bolt is considered by many to be the greatest sprinter of all time, winning eight Olympic gold medals

“Even if that’s your favorite athlete or player, why would a non-indigenous person dress up like that?

“It’s completely inappropriate and very insensitive.”

Nor is it the first racist incident to be investigated by the Toowoomba Rugby League this year.

A Pittsworth man has appealed his 10-year suspension from the sport after he was caught racially mocking a player on video.

Last month, the man pleaded guilty to conduct that is likely to discredit the game and violate material terms of the NRL code of conduct.

An appeal against the sentence was heard on September 15 by the QRL’s Central Region of Appeal.

The agency chose to postpone its decision “to consider all evidence presented.”