The Wests Tigers have demanded an apology and are exploring taking legal action against Fox Sports as the fallout from their botched Anzac jersey continues.
A day after the club abandoned and relaunched a commemorative jersey following revelations that the image used on the front of the jersey was of American soldiers, the club has now hit out at suggestions they have deliberately misled their fans.
The Wests Tigers have contacted Fox Sports boss Steve Crawley over comments made on Fox League’s NRL360 on Wednesday night.
The club has demanded an apology after it was claimed they misled their fans over their correspondence with the army. The Herald has contacted Crawley for comment.
“The reporting on NRL360 was not only erroneous but grossly offensive and defamatory,” Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis told the Herald.
“I have personally spoken with Fox Sports to express our disappointment and indignation at the allegations levelled against the club and have demanded a full and unreserved apology. The club reserves all its rights in relation to this matter should any further action be required.”
Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis has taken exception to comments made by Paul Kent (right) on Fox Sports’ NRL360 on Wednesday night.Credit: Getty, Supplied
After the Tigers were made aware of the mistake that had been made in the designing of the jersey. They claimed to have collaborated with Holsworthy Army Barracks.
NRL360 co-host Paul Kent, however, said he’d spoken to the Australian Defence Force and claimed the Tigers hadn’t spoken to them.
“I have spoken to the Defence Force, who have said to us that they were not consulted by the Tigers, as opposed to what the Tigers said yesterday,” Kent said on Wednesday night.
“That they did not supply any images to the Tigers. They do have images available if they are sought after, but they were not. The Tigers simply went and got a stock image off the internet, designed the jersey themselves and sent it off to Steeden who printed the jersey up.
“There is also a suggestion in the statement yesterday that it was purchased under the license of the official apparel partner. That’s not true. It was sent to Steeden by the Tigers. So the Tigers are a little bit slippery with their version of events today.”
The Tigers say they never claimed to have spoken to the Australian Defence Force. Hagipantelis confirmed that he has seen the email correspondence between the club and Holsworthy Army Barracks, who had seen the jersey and did not raise issue back in mid-March.
“The statement that was published by the club on the evening of April 4, with reference to Holsworthy Army Barracks, is completely accurate,” Hagipantelis said. “I have called for and cited lengthy email exchanges as per the club and the army barracks, which confirm the contents of the statement. At no time did we assert that we had sought the approval of the Holsworthy Army Barracks or ADF in relation to the jersey design. We collaborated with the Army Barracks with respect to marketing purposes.
“The suggestion that we have lied or misled our members and supporters is completely wrong and should be unreservedly withdrawn. To its credit, as soon as the club became aware there was a problem with the jersey design it was withdrawn.”
“We have offered an apology to anyone who may have been offended by the error. We have been completely transparent and take great offence to the suggestion that we have acted in an inappropriate manner. The error was made by the Wests Tigers was the selection of the image to be used on the jersey and this has been acknowledged and remedied.”
It’s not the first time this year Hagipantelis has taken aim at the media over coverage of the Tigers. The Herald reported last month about the chairman’s frustration over the reporting of recruit John Bateman’s absence in the opening couple weeks of the season.
Hagipantelis addressed more than 200 guests inside the Centurions Lounge at Leichhardt Oval before kick-off against the Knights in round two, using his speech to defend himself and the club against suggestions the Tigers were misleading people over Bateman’s fitness.
“Despite my public assurances that John Bateman is not playing due to any injury but rather for the reasons I have set out, there is still a section of the media that refuses to accept such declarations but rather, has positively asserted that we are fibbing and misleading our fans,” Hagipantelis told the club’s corporate partners and members.
“The public declarations which I make are based upon the information and assurances that I receive from those within the club who are possessed of the particular information. To suggest that I am fibbing or misleading our supporters necessarily implies that somehow I have been deceived as well.
“And knowing that deceiving the chair would not be a healthy career choice leads me to believe that what I have been told is absolutely correct and this is the information which I have imparted publicly. And there has never been any reason for me to question it.”
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