Lebanon players agree not to boycott Fiji Test
Lebanon will not boycott Saturday’s Test against Fiji following a meeting with Rugby League International Federation officials.
The Cedars take on the Bati in Saturday’s invitational Pacific Test at Leichhardt Oval and the Lebanese players have agreed to remove the tape covered over their governing body’s logo on their jersey, with the RLIF helping resolve the issues.
Earlier in the week, Lebanon captain Robbie Farah said the players would consider withdrawing from the match in response to threat from the Lebanese Rugby League Federation that they could face criminal prosecution if they covered up the logo.
The protest was made the Lebanese players over what they saw as a failure to capitalise on their success at the 2017 World Cup, when they reached the quarter-finals.
Farah met with RLIF chief executive Nigel Wood along with other Cedars players – Tim Mannah and Michael Lichaa. Wood convinced them not to tape over the Lebanon RL logo.
In return, the RLIF agreed to investigate their complaints with the LRLF.
Wood said: “The RLIF today met with representatives of the Lebanese playing group to better understand some of the issues which culminated in a potential threat to this weekend’s fixture.
“We believe the meeting was positive and productive and have subsequently asked for submissions in writing.
“The RLIF can and will play a role in seeking a mutually acceptable outcome, while recognising that fundamentally any dispute such as this can only be a matter for Lebanon RL and its players to actually agree and resolve.
“If we can play a role in rebuilding levels of trust in the best interests of rugby league in Lebanon then of course we will do so.”
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