MyPlayers organization explains their position on players’ rights regarding social issues
After weeks of controversy and political friction about sportsmen's involvement in social issues such as the Black Lives Matter movement, the official representative of South Africa's professional rugby players has announced their position on the matter.
The pressure has recently increased, especially from dubious political circles, to get rugby players in South Africa unnecessarily involved in the public debate surrounding the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, which has blown over here from America.
In light of this, MyPlayers, the representative body for all South African professional rugby players, issued an official statement earlier this week stating their position on behalf of the players.
MyPlayers stated that, in light of a number of recent campaigns in sport, including rugby, where individuals and teams have taken a stand on certain events and movements, the organisation has been asked for a formal statement and stance regarding these events and movements or causes.
The full statement reads as follows:
“As the representative body for all South African professional rugby players, MyPlayers is committed to respect, promote and fulfil the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom that are enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
“In the words of the Constitution, everyone has the right to life, has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected. Everyone is equal before the law and no one may unfairly discriminate against anyone on grounds such as race, gender, colour, sexual orientation, religion, belief, culture and language. As an organisation, MyPlayers is dedicated to a society that strives to achieve these rights for all citizens in all spheres of life.
“The Constitution also bestows various rights to freedom on its citizens, including the right to freedom of religion, belief and opinion, the right to freedom of association, as well as the right to freedom of expression. In line with the Constitution, MyPlayers respects these rights to freedom that the members of the Players’ Organisation have in respect of particular causes that they wish to support. The members are responsible and entitled to develop their own beliefs and opinions on any cause and should be allowed to promote them in a manner they deem fit.
“As a diverse and inclusive professional body that represents all South Africans and its communities when our members are on the rugby field playing for the Springboks and the various other national and provincial teams, MyPlayers has no intention and mandate to take a collective position on any cause that may lead to divisions among its members, rugby supporters and the public at large. We are often reminded of the immortal words of Nelson Mandela: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does.”
“MyPlayers does not want to squander this opportunity to contribute to a South Africa that is united in diversity.
In principle and conduct, the dedication of MyPlayers to a free, fair and just South Africa is resolute.”
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