Parramatta Eels board moves to reprimand fan site editor for speaking out
The board of major NRL club the Parramatta eels has moved to take disciplinary action against the editor of Parramatta Eels supporters website “1Eyed Eel” Philip Sim after he spoke to the media about his suspension from the club after “derogatory” comments about the chairman were posted on his site.
Following a piece in Mumbrella on March 26, and other subsequent media interview the club has now moved to further discipline him arguing that Sim: “provided comment on the Board’s disciplinary process including comment which was false and misleading in that you asset a false and unsubstantiated motivation relating the bringing of Charges under the Notice of Change dated 21 December 2012.”
The original story reported that Sim had been suspended by the club told he must run an apology on the site for no less than six months for running a photo of Parramatta chairman Roy Spagnolo which depicted him as a puppet-master. The story was also run in other media outlets, including Crikey.
It has also accused him of making comments that are “disparaging, if not defamatory, of the Members of the Disciplinary Committee or the Board of the club.”
This morning Sim, whose daytime job is CEO of media intelligence firm MediaConnect Australia, told Mumbrella the situation was turning into a farce. “The original citation was ridiculous and now it is getting into farcical territory now,” said Sim.
“It’s not bad enough that they are taking steps to prevent members from blogging their opinions. Now it seems I’m not allowed to tweet my opinion or answer questions from the media.”
The Parramatta Eels have consistently refused to comment on the matter other than to say that Sim had not yet been suspended. However, in a post by the board of directors of the club recently uploaded to the club’s website the club says:
“Phil Sim was cited by the Parramatta Leagues Club Board of Directors for conduct unbecoming a member.
“This process is confidential, principally to protect his interest as a member. That confidence has not been honoured in circumstances where the process is still in train and not completed.
“The assertion that the disciplinary proceedings prevent Phil from standing in upcoming elections is both false and misleading. Phil has only been a member of the Parramatta Leagues Club since November 2011, therefore under the Club’s constitution clause 27 (b) he is ineligible to participate in the election as a candidate, attend the AGM or vote.
“Sadly, this is yet another example of content on this website and otherwise placed in the public domain designed to undermine members’ confidence in the Club.”
Sim will face a new disciplinary hearing on Thursday but says the club should not be trying to censor him.
“I’m not sure I’m allowed to have an opinion at all. It’s not what a football club, who is there to serve its members, should be about, ” said Sim.
Parramatta Eels has not responded to requests for comment at the time of publishing.
Nic Christensen
Can Mumbrella please explain the difference between major and minor NRL clubs?
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I think Sharks = Minor. Everyone Else = Major.
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Easy Patrick. The minor ones aren’t in Sydney…
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What a joke. The Eels board should be more concerned about the rabble they have the great club in, not the opinion of a member (and I must say the vast majority of members I talk to agree the board MUST go). I think Roy’s time would be better spent seking a stadium and team sponsor for next year after he effectivey told Pirtek they were not fit to be sponsors! How does the worst performing team in 2012 dump it’s major sponsor????!!!!
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