The NRL has defended its decision to invite US President Donald Trump and UFC boss Dana White to Allegiant Stadium after White Ribbon severed ties with the game over the move.
Rugby league officials have gone to great lengths to attract the pair; Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys made a personal pitch to Trump on US TV show Fox and Friends, where he unveiled a match ball with “TRUMP” emblazoned on it. They have yet to hear if Trump will attend.
The Canberra Raiders even invited White to blow the Viking horn pre-game, but the Las Vegas resident will be out of town.
White Ribbon, an organisation that seeks to stop domestic violence against women and children, has ended its long-standing association with the NRL due to its overtures to Trump and White.
It demanded the NRL remove references to White Ribbon in its website and the governing body has complied.
US President Donald Trump.Credit: AP
Speaking at a promotion that attracted more than 500 travelling league fans at Resorts World, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo defended the decision to invite Trump.
“We are playing this match in America. We’re being hosted by America,” Abdo said. “Last year we invited Joe Biden, this year we invited Donald Trump. We invited the sitting president of the country in which we visit.
“It’s not an unusual practice to do this. It’s not to say we have any political affiliation with any party.
“We’re a sport. We’re about bringing people together no matter what your political beliefs, no matter what your background.
“We’re a sport for everyone, for all, and I think sending an invite to the sitting president of this country is appropriate and that’s what we did.”
A federal appeals court last year upheld a $8 million verdict that E. Jean Carroll won against Trump when a jury found the US president-elect liable for sexually abusing and later defaming the former magazine columnist.
White was filmed slapping his wife in a nightclub two years ago. No charges were laid.
“While the NRL continues to promote their association with us, this decision by the NRL is wildly misaligned with our values and lacks integrity and respect,” White Ribbon Australia chief executive Merinda March said in a statement provided to ABC News.
The Herald’s travel expenses to Las Vegas have been partly funded by the NRL.
