It's a tough one. Most teams I have been at have been strongly inclusive. The message was

that you can believe what you want, but don't get opinionated in public as it paints the team with the same brush and also divides the fanbase. Therefore you could be kicked out (or fired, depending on the level) for publicly sharing views which were offensive to anybody. The message always had to be about the sport and that was it.

I would have first reminded him of this and then administered a fine conditional of him making an apology. If he made no apology, then it is possible that he could have been kicked out. Perhaps this is what happened.

To be honest it is only really implemented at the higher levels. If every time I saw an anti-gay or anti-muslim (for example) sentiment expressed by a player of mine on Facebook (in the lower levels) I had to kick them out then I'd probably have seen every club fold due to lack of players. Conversely when you're at semi-pro or higher and fans start following your social media, it is understood that you do not express political, religious or social beliefs on social media. For example, I have shared a few Brexit posts myself, but even that will now cease as I am now coaching a team in the UK.

The irony is that by being inclusive, you're also including people who are not tolerant, so the only way to avoid these situations is to set down clear behavioural guidelines and hold them to it.

Posted By: Steve in Holland, Apr 13, 11:54:09