Bulldogs complain to NRL after Tigers flip fans the ‘Arab middle finger’

The Canterbury Bulldogs have raised issues with the behaviour of some Wests Tigers players to the NRL after an emotional afternoon at CommBank Stadium on Sunday.

The Bulldogs have asked the NRL integrity unit to look into the behaviour of a number of Tigers players following their last try to Samuela Fainu, after they gave Canterbury the Arab equivalent of the middle finger. The NRL is aware of the situation.

The gesture, which is widely known as a “khawd” or “khod” in the Arab community, is given by lowering the middle finger and pointing it in the direction of another person. The term “khawd” means “take that” in Arabic, however, in some contexts, it has an offensive meaning similar to “flipping the bird”.

The Bulldogs have a large Arab fan base and club officials have been inundated by complaints by members and fans who felt disrespected by the incident, which took place in the latter stages of the game.

Tigers back-rower Fainu signalled the gesture to the fans after scoring the match-sealing try in front of Canterbury supporters. His brother Latu Fainu and Brent Naden also joined in.

It was followed by former Bulldogs player Naden posting a video on social media after the game with the same gesture while saying “f---ing dogs”. Naden later deleted the post and closed down his account.

The Tigers have a large contingent of Lebanese players, including man of the match Adam Doueihi, prop Alex Twal and youngster Tony Sukkar. Sukkar was in the huddle during the celebration but did not use the gesture.

Bulldogs bosses declined to comment but confirmed that the club has been dealing with angry supporters since the incident.

Michael Cheika, the former Wallabies coach and now coach of the Lebanese rugby league team – was unimpressed when he watched the celebrations. Cheika is of Lebanese descent, and cousins with Tigers’ utility Adam Doueihi.

“I was pretty shocked when I was watching the game and saw what was going on after that try – I knew what was going on straight away,” Cheika said on Monday.

“It was very culturally insensitive. They knew what it meant because there are Lebanese players in the team. And they chose to do it in front of kids. They were playing so well, they should have been celebrating with their teammates, not abusing people in the crowd.

“It’s a pretty offensive gesture in our culture. It’s not cool. The best way to get into the opposition supporters is by doing it on the scoreboard.

“Considering one of the main shows was at Alex Twal’s house during the week, filming a Lebanese barbecue, and promoting the culture and the game, and then to do that … unfortunately, it was ignorant, and I didn’t like it.”

The Tigers produced an inspired performance to knock off the Bulldogs in the match dubbed the “Lachlan Galvin Cup” following the Bulldogs halfback’s mid-season defection from the joint-venture club.

This masthead contacted Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson for comment on Monday morning.

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