Soccer star in trouble after allegedly hurling vile four-letter insult at referee

Mikaele Ravalawa’s hopes of returning to the St George Illawarra NRL team have been dealt another blow, with the winger being referred straight to the NSWRL judiciary for verbal abuse.

Ravalawa was charged on Monday by the NSWRL for insulting a touch judge in Friday night’s NSW Cup match against Parramatta.

The winger was sent off the field late in the match, after venting his frustration when the Eels’ winning try was awarded despite the indication of a hit.

Ravalawa is understood to have said ‘what the fuck, fuck’ to a match referee after the try was awarded to allow Parramatta to go ahead 18-14.

A remorseful Ravalawa approached the official after the contest to apologize.

“I apologized after the game,” Ravalawa said.

“It was unprofessional and I’m sorry.”

The NSWRL opted on Monday not to give Ravalawa a predetermined rating and left it to the judiciary to decide the winger’s punishment on Thursday night.

Ravalawa can be one of the NRL’s most damaging wingers when he’s at his best, scoring 67 tries in 96 NRL games and topping the Dragons’ 2021 charts.

But now he is abroad, in Wollongong.

Contracted until the end of 2026, Ravalawa was dropped a fortnight ago despite the Saints having an already depleted defensive line.

In doing so, he appears to have fallen behind Mat and Max Feagai in the pecking order, as well as Sione Finau.

“He’s been struggling with a knee and a foot injury over the last few months and I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Mika,” coach Shane Flanagan said at the time.

“The group has been told on numerous occasions that I will give some freedom to the senior players, but I have to build the best team.”

Any ban will deny Ravalawa the chance to regain selection in the near future, with the NSWRL suspensions also carrying over to the NRL.