An anti-discrimination board in Australia has accepted a complaint against former Wallabies star Israel Folau accusing him of the "vilification of LGBT people".
Gay anti-discrimination activist Garry Burns wrote to New South Wales' Anti-Discrimination Board's president in early December complaining about Folau.
The former rugby superstar became embroiled in controversy and legal action earlier this year after posting a picture on Instagram saying all drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters would go to hell.
His contract with Rugby Australia was terminated after he refused to remove the post, leading to a wrongful termination lawsuit.
Burns said the Instagram post, as well as other comments by the player linking natural disasters with the legalisation of same-sex marriage, were "objectively capable of incitement of contempt and or hatred of homosexual persons on the ground of their homosexuality", according to Australian media.
The Australian anti-discrimination board wrote to Burns on Friday to say that his complaint had been accepted.
"Mark my words, Mr Folau is about to cop a dose of third-degree Burns," the activist told AAP.
Writing on a GoFundMe page, where the man has raised more than $7500, Burns said the complaint would go to open court in the New Year if the issue cannot be sorted beforehand.
After a complaint has been accepted by the board, the person being complained about is contacted and a conciliation conference occurs. If the issue isn't resolved, the complaint can go to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The lawsuit between Folau and Rugby Australia was settled earlier this month.
