Daughter of Aussie basketball legend Shane Heal launches into withering takedown of teammates who claimed her father bullied them: ‘Can’t hide the truth forever’
- Shyla Heal slams bullying allegations against her father
- Basketballer wants to know which players complained
- Shane Heal faces claims from Sydney Flames players
Shyla Heal has slammed bullying allegations made against her father Shane Heal by players from WNBL side Sydney Flames, saying that the truth can’t be hidden forever.
Shane Heal, a former Boomers captain and four-time Olympian, has sued the Sydney Flames after being suspended as head coach after multiple bullying complaints were raised against him.
Heal, who has been suspended without pay by the Flames since mid-January, filed Federal Court proceedings last week seeking penalties and orders preventing his termination from the club.
Previously, neither Heal nor the club had made any comment on the nature of the investigation or why the former Sydney Kings star had been stood down.
However after Heal filed for the injunction, the Flames released a statement revealing that the investigation is in relation to allegations of bullying players within the organisation.
Shyla Heal (pictured) has slammed bullying allegations made against her father Shane Heal by players from WNBL side Sydney Flames, saying that the truth can’t be hidden forever
Heal, who has been suspended without pay by the Flames since mid-January, filed Federal Court proceedings seeking penalties and orders preventing his termination from the club
Shyla, who was released by the Flames earlier this month for ‘personal reasons’, took to Twitter to share her father’s statement, saying: ‘Can’t hide the truth forever’.
The 20-year-old also shared tweet that questioned who the Flames players were that complained about her father.
The tweet read: ‘Now that Sydney have released a statement (about the worst kept secret in Aus BB) will we get to know which players considered that they were being bullied?
‘If you want to play at the highest level and you have thin skin, why are you there?
‘All of the Sydney players will be tarred with the same brush’ if they do not tell us who the players were who complained.’
The responses to the tweet were mostly in support of her father.
‘It used to be called COACHING,’ wrote one user.
‘There are plenty of coaches in other sports that would fall into exact same category They are simply looking to get best out of a player It is tough love not bullying,’ commented another.
The 20-year-old also shared tweet that questioned who the Flames players were that complained about her father (Shane Heal pictured coaching the Sydney Flames)
The Heal family pictured together at Christmas
In a statement on Tuesday, the club criticised Heal’s lawsuit.
‘The Sydney Flames maintain the current legal proceedings instigated by Mr Heal are simply an effort to delay or block the Sydney Flames from bringing its current process to a conclusion,’ the club said.
‘What sits at the heart of this matter is player safety and welfare. That is our sole concern at this time, and we will always maintain focus on that.
‘The Sydney Flames see no merit in Mr Heal’s current legal manoeuvring and will defend Mr Heal’s Court proceedings vigorously and to its full extent.’
Heal’s case will next come before the Federal Court on February 15.