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News.com.au
5 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Two words prove AFL got its handling of Izak Rankine case horribly wrong
The AFL have a zero tolerance approach when it comes to racism, vilification and discrimination. That's what every policy and rule book within league documentation states. This week however the AFL showed that tolerance has some wiggle room. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. For more than five days the AFL went back and forth with the Adelaide Crows after Izak Rankine used a homophobic slur against a Collingwood player. It took until Thursday afternoon for a ruling to finally be handed down with Rankine copping a four-match suspension. A ruling that was less than many in the football world had predicted and one that proved the AFL's supposed zero tolerance stance was anything but. For the sixth time in the past 16 months, the league found itself handling a situation where a player had delivered a homophobic slur to a rival. The first five instances, all under Andrew Dillon's rule, were dealt with swiftly and punishment was handed down without a drawn out process. Then came the Rankine case. Instead of standing firm, the AFL allowed the situation to steal the headlines for an entire week ahead of the final round of the season. The supposed zero tolerance stance was given leeway to allow the Crows every fighting chance of reducing Rankine's ban. Now we're not saying the Crows didn't deserve the right to appeal, but the AFL needed to prove this is a zero tolerance matter by handing out a ban in a swift manner like they have done with past situations. The league will say its delayed ruling had nothing to do with the fact the Crows sit on cusp of claiming the minor premiership with finals are just around the corner, but it's impossible to think otherwise when looking at the picture as a whole. Rankine's case was handled entirely differently to the five that had come before it. A fact that has not been lost on the football world. Former AFLW star turned media personality Kate McCarthy, who has become a leading voice around the league for speaking out about LGBTQIA+ issues, took aim at the league for going away from it's zero tolerance stance. 'If you look at all of the policies, all of the handbooks, all of the rulings in the AFL and the words that come after anything to do with racism, vilification, any sort of discrimination around sexual orientation or gender is zero tolerance,' McCarthy said on Triple M. 'I don't think we've seen zero tolerance play out this week. 'In the sense that he said what he said, it was proven that he said it, therefore the sanction should be handed down. That's it, there's zero tolerance. 'There's nothing that you can do or say to justify that and that is the sanction. 'I feel like that's what we've seen with every other incident that has played out in this. Clubs have accepted it, they've owned that what was said was wrong, the sanction has been handed out and we've moved on.' McCarthy said she felt for AFLW players at the Crows and says if she was in there shoes she'd be feeling anger towards the club for how it handled it all. 'There's been back and forth between the AFL and the Adelaide Crows and my initial thoughts in all of that go to the AFLW players at that football club that are openly gay,' she said. 'They're hearing that their football club is challenging a sanction that has been handed down for someone that has delivered a homophobic slur on field. 'If I was a player at that club, and I'm not talking on behalf of any of those players this is purely me, I would be really disappointed and a little bit angry at my football club for taking that stance. 'If you are accepting full responsibility like they're saying they have and they're saying Izak has, you accept it and move on and that's that. I don't know why there has been so much back and forth here.' The Herald Sun's Jay Clark pondered if the medical reasoning, listed by the AFL, deserved any benefit in the ruling. 'Do you put any weighting in the fact that Andrew Dillon today said they had factored in some compelling medical circumstances,' Clark asked. 'Now they haven't been explained. I think it's pretty obvious that it will be a mental health concern in this next period for Rankine. 'But does that fly with you?' McCarthy was blunt in her response. 'I can't judge on those (medical) circumstances, I have no idea what they are obviously we're not privy to any of them,' she said. 'My stance on that is, there is absolutely nothing you could say to me that would justify using a homophobic slur.' McCarthy wasn't alone in condemning the league for how it handled the situation with veteran journalist Gerard Whateley tearing the AFL to shreds. 'The Izak Rankine four-week suspension is such a disappointing moment from a disappointing administration,' Whateley said on SEN. 'It is the AFL's stand to rid the game of homophobic language… a campaign they began last season and from what we understand it is specifically Andrew Dillon's stand. 'And at the moment of greatest challenge he couldn't see it through. The penalty for the use of a homophobic slur without self-reporting is 5 weeks. 'This confected outcome hid behind 'compelling medical submissions'. All those involved know they can avoid accountability by using such an oblique phrase.' Whateley said the issue should have been dealt with in a swift manner regardless of who the player was, which club he played for and regardless of the time of year. '(AFL CEO Andrew) Dillon and his legal team should have travelled to Adelaide on Tuesday and sat with the Crows administration,' Whateley said. 'Dillon should have said the penalty is five weeks now let's hear your submissions. 'Dillon should have followed up with the penalty is five weeks now let's hear your appeal. 'And finally Dillon should have said the penalty is five weeks now let's go and front the press conference. 'That should have happened regardless which club and which player it was. This was the moment a struggling administration needed to hold firm in what it believes in and show unwavering commitment and leadership. 'But Dillon and his executive couldn't see it through. It's just so disappointing. And a little bit more faith is lost in those running the game.' The Adelaide Crows will take to the field on Saturday for their last home and away game of the season against North Melbourne before they gear up for the finals. Rankine, like the rest of us, will be watching on from the sidelines. Jeremy Finlayson (April, 2024) – three game suspension Wil Powell (May, 2024) – five game suspension Lance Collard (July, 2024) – six game suspension Jack Graham (July, 2025) – four game suspension
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Izak Rankine handed four-game ban for homophobic slur
The AFL has effectively handed Izak Rankine a season-ending ban, finally bringing an end to a saga that has gone on for five days. The 25-year-old superstar was delivered a four-game ban on Thursday afternoon, with the Crows releasing a subsequent statement confirming Rankine 'used a homophobic slur' during last Saturday's game against Collingwood. It is slightly less than the five-game ban most had predicted. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. 'I regret using the word and I am very sorry for doing so and that type of language has no place in football or the community,' Rankine said in the club statement. 'It was a mistake and I have apologised to the Collingwood player and what happened does not reflect my values or those of the club. 'I'm committed to educating myself and being better.' If the ladder-leading Crows win both a qualifying and preliminary final to reach the grand final, they will play four more games this year and Rankine's season is over. The only way he will play again this year is if the Crows lose in the first week of the finals and have to take the long road to the decider at the MCG. Last weekend's contest in which the Crows emerged three-point victors was one of the games of the season, but it was overshadowed by an ugly moment where Rankine used a gay slur towards a Collingwood opponent. Rankine allegedly called his opponent a f****t, with the incident coming just weeks after West Coast's Jack Graham was banned for four matches for calling a GWS player a 'f***ing f****t'. Once the allegation came to light, the AFL's initial investigation reportedly concluded on Tuesday that Rankine's conduct was deserving of a season-ending ban. On Wednesday, the Crows then asked for more time in their bid to downgrade any possible suspension and attempt to save Rankine's season. With AFL officials facing increasing criticism over the time it has taken for a verdict to be handed down, the decision finally dropped in a lengthy statement just after 3.30pm AEST on Thursday. 'The AFL wishes to advise that Adelaide Crows player Izak Rankine has been found guilty of breaching AFL Rule 2.3(a) (Conduct Unbecoming) in relation to an incident during the fourth quarter of the Round 23 match between Adelaide and Collingwood on Saturday night,' it read. 'The incident was reported to the AFL on Sunday by the Adelaide Crows. 'The AFL Integrity Unit found that Rankine used a highly offensive homophobic slur against a Collingwood opponent — language that demeans and denigrates people regardless of their sexuality. 'Following an investigation and submissions from Adelaide and Rankine including compelling medical submissions, Rankine has received a four-match sanction and has been ordered to undertake further Pride In Sport training.' The statement added that Rankine called the player in question to apologise and 'fully cooperated with the subsequent investigation by the AFL Integrity Unit including by admitting the use of the homophobic slur and being remorseful for it'. AFL General Counsel Stephen Meade slammed Rankine in the statement and said the sport still clearly had work to do to combat the issue. 'The language used was offensive, hurtful and highly inappropriate,' he said. 'Our players have a very clear understanding of what is acceptable on the football field. 'Importantly, in this instance it was called out by players and acknowledged by Izak himself as wrong — and that reflects the standards we expect and demand in our game. 'Izak has said he knew it was not acceptable. Adelaide have said they know it is not acceptable. 'In an AFL environment, this behaviour is not acceptable. 'Homophobia has no place in football. The suspension is significant, but stamping out vilification in our game is incredibly important. Everyone in football understands the rules, and there are consequences of breaching them. 'We recognise this is a challenging time for the players and clubs involved and appropriate support has been offered. 'But our responsibility is also to every player, official and fan who deserves respect when they come to our game. In 2025, the players know this more than anyone. 'We know people in the LGBTQI+ community and allies hurt when an incident like this happens. One incident of this nature is too many and the fact there have been multiple this year shows we still have more work to do and we are committed to that.' The AFL added it will 'continue to consider the specific circumstances in each incident in determining appropriate responses'. Crows chief executive Tim Silvers said the club was extremely disappointed with Rankine's behaviour and the language he used. 'Such language is unacceptable and at odds with the values of our organisation and we are committed to being a club that fosters a respectful and inclusive environment,' Silvers said. 'We are obviously frustrated and disappointed, however, player welfare is always a priority and we will provide Izak with the appropriate support and education.' It is a brutal blow for the Crows as they push for their first premiership since 1998. Adelaide concludes its regular season against the Kangaroos in Melbourne on Saturday. With a top-two spot secured ahead of round 24, the Crows are perfectly placed for a tilt at the flag, but will now need to do so without one of their most important players. AFL's previous bans for offensive slurs This is the sixth such offence since the beginning of last year involving slurs, with the AFL slowly trending towards harsher bans as shown below: Jeremy Finlayson (April, 2024) – three-game suspension Wil Powell (May, 2024) – five-game suspension Jack Graham (July, 2025) – four-game suspension
The Age
3 hours ago
- The Age
‘Compelling' medical evidence behind Rankine's reduced ban
The AFL has pointed to an undisclosed medical submission as the driver of their decision to give star Crow Izak Rankine a discounted suspension of four matches for a homophobic slur. The ban leaves the door ajar for Rankine to return for the grand final, and was announced as AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon launched a fierce defence of the league's choice of Snoop Dogg to headline the grand final entertainment, following suggestions of hypocrisy over the rapper's historical use of homophobic and sexually demeaning language. Rankine was initially offered a five-match ban for calling a Collingwood player a f----t during last Saturday night's match at Adelaide Oval. However, the Crows fought for three matches and included an expert submission on the player's mental health, according to a source with knowledge of the process, which stretched over almost five days. Loading Dillon cited the compelling medical evidence in explaining Rankine's suspension, which was short of the five-match bans previously handed to players who did not self-report. The ban means the Crows will be without their most electrifying match-winner for round 24 and the start of their finals campaign. Should the Crows, who have a double chance, lose their first final but make it through to the grand final, Rankine would be able to play in the decider. Speaking at his media conference on Thursday afternoon, Dillon said the medical argument was critical in determining the outcome.
