Disgraced anti-gay rugby star Israel Folau's fundraising campaign shut down by GoFundMe

Former Wallabies star and disgraced rugby player Israel Folau has had a GoFundMe campaign to help fund his legal battle against Rugby Australia shut down.

Folau started the GoFundMe campaign last week, asking people to donate $3 million in order to fight Rugby Australia, which last month terminated his contract as a fullback for the Wallabies after he shared a number of homophobic posts to his Instagram account claiming that homosexuals would 'burn in hell'.

After being created on 18 June, the campaign had raised nearly $750,000. GoFundMe said that more than $1 million had been donated to hundreds of campaigns across Australia since Folau launched his appeal for cash

In a statement about the decision, the crowdfunding giant said:

While we welcome GoFundMes engaging in diverse civil debate, we do not tolerate the promotion of discrimination or exclusion.

GoFundMe's Australian regional director Nicola Brittan also commented:

We are absolutely committed to the fight for equality for LGBTIQ+ people and fostering an environment of inclusively.

Rugby Australia's chief executive Raelene Castle condemned Folau's public appeal for money. Speaking to ABC News, he said:

From our perspective, [GoFundMe] is a place where sick children get support, so it's certainly not a strategy we think is appropriate.

Many social media users praised the decision.

However, some called the decision 'illiberal'.

And said that GoFundMe was rigged against Christians.

While others suggested that the funds were re-donated to LGBT+ charities.

Or perhaps they would use the funds for... something else?

The rainbow goddess has spoken!

Others simply described the decision as 'amazing news'.

The disgraced rugby star also issued a response to the suspension, saying that the decision to delete the page was 'very disappointing':

HT Twitter Moments

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