Calls Grow For Australian Athletes Convicted Of Domestic Violence To Cop Lifetime Bans

Willie Mason has received widespread praise from television viewers after calling for life bans for any athlete who is found guilty of - or who has a history with - domestic violence.

The former rugby league player made the comments while appearing on ABC'sYou Can't Ask That show alongside fellow ex-sports stars Todd Carney, Dean Widders, Jude Bolton, Dan Jackson, Ian Roberts and Brock McLean.

On the TV programme, the guests were asked a variety of confronting questions to spark debate about controversial topics, both on and off the field.

When Mason was asked 'why do so many of you treat women like s**t?' he well and truly went off.

"How do so many... that's bulls**t," he said. "There's over 1,000 people that play this game. You're talking about five people."

Clearly already fired up, Mason then recalled the time he watched a video of an off-field incident involving an NRL star and another woman that 'made him sick'.

"That guy who filmed that girl, putting his foot on her head, spitting on her," he said. "The disrespect I saw in that video made me sick and I see some pieces of s**t playing our game right now.

"Todd Carney, on the other hand, just p**sed in his own mouth and got his contract ripped up, and I don't think that's fair.

"I just don't think the repercussions are big enough. If you do anything like that you're sacked. Not have six months off and you're welcomed back in the back door and playing NRL. No, you're done.

"If you were like that and in a club and you said something to a woman that I didn't like, then I would call them a f**kwit."

Parramatta Eels legend Dean Widders doubled down on Mason's statements.

"If you hit a woman and stuff like that, well, there should be a black mark through your name straightaway," Widders said.

"There's a lot of times where people will accept things because a person can throw or kick a football better than someone else.

"And I think we've got to look past those achievements in the sporting arena and look at the behaviour of some of the people and just go, 'Well, that's not acceptable'."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Australia

Max Sherry

Max Sherry is a journalist for SPORTbible Australia. After migrating Down Under from London as a teenager, he instantly fell in love with Aussie sport and its culture. From NRL to AFL, cricket to rugby — you name it, Max watches it (with a beer in hand, of course). During his time at Fox Sports, he worked in the football department covering the Premier League, A-League, Socceroos and Matildas. Born a stone's throw away from West Ham's training ground, Max is obviously a die-hard Liverpool fan.

@maxysherry