Top lawyer Lee Hagipantelis has declared it would be a ‘public policy disaster’ if anyone was fined or banned for entering the field of play during Friday night’s NRL game because the Prime Minster did it too. The NRL and South Sydney Rabbitohs had discouraged fans from running onto the field when Alex Johnston broke the all-time try-scoring record.
The NRL said anyone caught invading the pitch would face fines of $5500 and stadium bans. But when Johnston scored his 213th try (the most ever) against the Roosters on Friday night, fans flooded onto the field to celebrate.
The Prime Minister was part of the celebrations on the field. Image: Channel 9
One of them was PM Anthony Albanese – a diehard Rabbitohs fan who was in attendance. The Prime Minister wanted to be part of the celebrations and walked onto the field with a few of his security.
As of Tuesday, no-one had been issued with fines for entering the field of play, although two people were arrested on Friday night and subsequently charged. One man allegedly assaulted a security guard, while the other tried to enter the field earlier in the game before Johnston broke the record.
Fans mobbed Alex Johnston after he broke the NRL try-scoring record.
(AAPIMAGE)
Spectators flooded onto the pitch despite warnings.
(Getty Images)Top lawyer predicts NRL fans won’t face prosecution
Speaking on SEN radio on Tuesday, Hagipantelis of Brydens Lawyers said it would be ‘problematic’ for anyone to cop a fine or ban considering Albo was on the field as well. The former Wests Tigers chairman said the only people who might be facing charges would be anyone who broke the law in another way while on-field.
Anthony Albanese was among the many who entered the field of play. Image: Channel 9
“Theres plenty of video evidence available,” he said. “Not only what was produced by the broadcasters but plenty floating around on social media. And a lot of video of a certain high-profile, well-known politician.
“And that’s the argument – how do they selectively prosecute others and not the Prime Minister? For example, if you get pulled over for speeding you can’t argue that others have sped as well…it doesn’t work.
“The discretion to prosecute rests with the police or the Director of Public Prosecutions. I think it would be a public policy disaster for the police to go ahead and prosecute people if they don’t prosecute the Prime Minster as well.
“However they may target those who instigated the breach – the first ones over the fence – to make an example of them. Or anyone behaving aggressively or misbehaving. But other than that it would be a public policy disaster to go ahead and prosecute…it would be problematic.”