- Latrell Mitchell unlikely to be disciplined for white powder photo
- Mitchell, 27, could be suspended if he admits to any alleged wrongdoing
- The Rabbitohs fullback was interviewed by the NRL Integrity Unit by phone
A leading lawyer has explained why the NRL is unlikely to sanction Latrell Mitchell over a photo that appears to show him with an unidentified white powder, unless the Rabbitohs star admits any alleged wrongdoing.
The development comes after Mitchell, 27, was interviewed by phone in relation to the image on Tuesday by the NRL Integrity Unit.
Prominent Sydney lawyer Paul McGirr does not believe Mitchell will be fined or suspended after he was photographed leaning over a table at a Dubbo hotel next to what appears to be an unknown white substance.
Daily Mail Australia does not suggest it is an illicit drug.
“Unless Latrell Mitchell, or whoever was supposedly in that room, attests to what Latrell is actually doing, and when, then I would say, on its face, legally, the case would probably collapse,” McGirr said. News Corporation.
“It is pure speculation about a person seen bent over a table. The NRL only has to prove things on the balance of probabilities but without any admissions the case would be in trouble.
‘Without taking anything for granted, there is nothing in the still image that indicates what he is doing outside of the imagination. Without any confirmation or denial, it is pure speculation.’
Meanwhile, former NSW Blues scrum-half Mitchell Pearce has come to Mitchell’s defence following the scandal.
A leading lawyer has explained why the NRL is unlikely to sanction Latrell Mitchell over a photo that appears to show him with an unidentified white powder on a table (pictured) – unless the Rabbitohs star admits any alleged wrongdoing.
The development comes after Mitchell, 27, was interviewed in relation to the image on Tuesday by phone by the NRL Integrity Unit; he has not yet commented on the matter.
Pearce and fellow former football bad boy Todd Carney spoke on the Half-Time podcast, with Pearce insisting Mitchell is not the main culprit behind the scandal.
Pearce has suffered his own experience of images of himself being shared on social media without his permission. In 2016, he was suspended for eight matches after a video of him simulating a vile act with a dog was leaked.
“I hope someone takes strong action against the person who is filming this stuff,” Pearce said.
‘It would be nice to know what the laws are on this because it’s nonsense. You’d hope it wasn’t his friend, but whoever was there doing that deserves major repercussions.
“The game needs to find out who these people are and take tough action against them. They should name them and shame them because these people get away with it and there are no repercussions.
‘Poor Latrell will hold his hand up and say he did something wrong, but the other person who filmed him should be named and shamed.
‘It’s a horrible feeling to be Latrell and for all this to come to light.
‘I feel sorry for him, but at the same time, if he’s done this, he’s put himself in an average position, right?
Reformed bad boy Mitchell Pearce (pictured with ex-fiancée Kristin Scott) has urged the NRL to “take tough action” against the person who filmed the controversial video.
“It’s not good for the game and it’s not good for Latrell. Nobody knows what that white substance was so it’s hard to comment on it, but it’s not good for the game and it’s not good for Souths with the year they’ve had.”
Carney added that he hopes Mitchell has the right people around him to get through this trying period in his life.
“It’s sad to see the privacy of an athlete violated again,” said the former eighth-place finisher.
“For Latrell, this will obviously have huge consequences. He is one of the biggest stars in our game.
‘My concern now is for Latrell and how he handles the situation, what he does… whether he goes out and takes charge of it or walks away from it. That’s the concern of a player because we’re all human and we make mistakes.
“I hope Latrell has enough support around him because they (the media) won’t leave him alone until they get a story. I’m going to defend Latrell and I hope he’s okay.”
