NRL chief executive David Gallop was forced to apologise yesterday after using a terrorist analogy to describe the Melbourne fans who booed him on the weekend.
In the first sign that a difficult few weeks might have finally taken their toll of the league supremo, the normally ice-cool Gallop appeared to lose his composure when responding to questions over his treatment at AAMI Park on Sunday.
Gallop was drowned out by boos from the Storm faithful during his presentation of the JJ Giltinan Shield to Melbourne chief executive Ron Gauci, the vitriolic response a remnant of their disgust after the club was stripped of two premierships for rorting the salary cap.
When a Queensland regional radio station on Monday night suggested the booing was a sign of the passion among the Storm supporters, Gallop said: "I never really go for that whole passion line.
"I mean, terrorists are passionate about what they do and, you know, that doesn't make it right."
