Latest news with #AFL investigation
ABC News
17 hours ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Izak Rankine's AFL ban pales in comparison to widespread impact of homophobia on community
When Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson was asked if the several incidents of homophobic language on an AFL field in the past two years reflected a cultural issue within the sport, he responded with a curt and resounding: "No." This was in light of his teammate, and arguably the Crows' best player, Izak Rankine, being under investigation for using a highly offensive homophobic slur against a Collingwood player in Saturday night's match. That investigation concluded on Thursday with Rankine handed a four-match ban, sidelining him for the final home-and-away round and the majority of finals series. Rankine could be available to play in the grand final if Adelaide make it, but only if they lose the qualifying final. During the week many prominent figures in the AFL, including Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick, questioned the length of bans handed down to players who have used homophobic slurs during games. Many argued against their severity. But few waded into meaty discussion, or mentioned at all, the reason the bans are so extreme — which is the acute impact homophobia still has in our game, according to the AFL queer community. "By no means do I condone the behaviour of it, but I think the term of suspension is probably the challenge point that clubs feel … It's probably the penalty to me that I have a little bit of an issue with," Hardwick told AFL 360. "It's a significant penalty, I feel." Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire echoed similar thoughts, suggesting there should be a baseline two-week ban. "I know [AFL executive] Greg Swann in his heart of hearts would be saying [seven weeks] is a bit harsh. We don't know whether [the offence] was said as a throwaway line or whether it was vehement," McGuire said on his podcast with AFL great Jimmy Bartel. The downplaying of the incident not only doesn't line up with evidence, which shows the impact of homophobia, but is part of its problem. Research has found young LGBTQIA+ Australians are turning away from community sport due to the prevalence of homophobia, queerphobia and discrimination. The Free to Exist report by Swinburne University of Technology, which surveyed more than 500 people, found more than 75 per cent of young gay men have witnessed homophobia, and more than 60 per cent had experienced it personally. Queerphobia in sport also affects women and gender diverse people. Following backlash to the lengthy ban, former AFLW All-Australian turned expert commentator Kate McCarthy said if someone wasn't from a particular minority group, they have no right to say whether a slur was offensive to them or not. "You'd hope people would have enough empathy to see this is offensive to the LGBT community, but clearly that is not the case," McCarthy told ABC Sport, referring to McGuire's comments. Rosie Delaney, a queer amateur football player and avid AFL men's and women's fan, said if she were to experience homophobic or transphobic abuse while playing, it would really affect her. "I have a thick skin, but it wears on you and feeling unwelcome and excluded from regular society is one of the worst feelings as a queer and/or gender diverse person," Delaney told ABC Sport. "As a fan, it's much worse. And it really does affect my enjoyment of a game that I love so much. It makes it harder to enjoy watching any team that has a player who has committed one of these offences in it and particularly harder to enjoy watching that player. "Izak Rankine is an excellent and very entertaining footballer, but the knowledge that these thoughts are in his head is a tremendous pall hanging over his participation in it now for me." Notably, there has never been an openly gay male player in the AFL; a stark contrast to the AFLW, which has a high proportion of openly queer players. If anything, the most recent incident of homophobia in the men's AFL competition highlights the need for wider cultural change and targeted anti-homophobia work — not more lenient bans, regardless of what juncture of the season incidents occur. As Swinburne University Sport Innovation Research Group research fellow and study author Ryan Storr told ABC Sport: "The consequences [of homophobic language] are far reaching." "Not only does it have negative impacts on the mental health of LGBTIQA+ people, it subjects them to a barrage of online commentary, which often tries to minimise or excuse the impacts of homophobic language. "Young people in particular reported having to navigate this online commentary can be mentally taxing — and further alienates them from sport". The question then, given the prevalence of recent cases, is if the AFL's current sanctions are working. Cailtin Bunker, engagement director at Pride Cup, who works with the AFL on LGBTQIA education, feels they are. She argued the increased reporting was a positive sign that players, staff and supporters are more aware of the severity of the problem and what problematic behaviour is. Pride Cup worked with Essendon recently around education of LGBTQIA+ issues ahead of their pride game with Sydney. "They [the AFL and clubs] are sort of starting to react and respond appropriately," Bunker said. But Delaney said Dawson's flat "no" to the question of a cultural problem within the AFL spoke to a lack of engagement from players with queer issues in sport. "It's really hurtful as a queer and trans fan. Whatever the AFL is doing to educate the players clearly isn't working and is obviously not enough," she said. However both Bunker and Delaney argued the primary issue was the ripple effects of the homophobic language harming LGBTQIA+ people and driving them from the game. "We know that around the world, 87 per cent of gay men are completely or partially in the closet while playing sport," Bunker said. "And I guess the question that kind of comes up for me is, how many young people are missing out on not just finals but on sports full stop because of this sort of behaviour?" "Institutions like AFL clubs obviously have really long histories, and cultural change does take time, but it is great to sort of start to see that shift, and start to see these incidents being taken seriously and not just swept under the rug."
News.com.au
a day ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Desperate' Crows questioned for ‘arguing at every turn' as slur saga stalls
The Adelaide Crows have come under scrutiny for 'arguing the toss at every turn' with regards to the ongoing investigation into the alleged homophobic slur delivered by Izak Rankine to a Collingwood player. The Crows are bracing for Rankine to be dealt a season-ending suspension from the AFL, but despite expectations a decision would be made on Tuesday — as all parties involved have been spoken to — the league will continue to mull the situation until at least Thursday before determining a sanction. Watch every game until the 2025 AFL Grand Final LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. Adelaide was granted 'additional time to respond to the AFL's proposed determinations', per an AFL statement on Wednesday afternoon. The alleged incident occurred on Saturday night, before relevant interviews took place and submissions made on Monday. The league is thought to be hunting a five-match ban for Rankine — which would end his season — with the Crows now in the process of readying their response. Respected commentator and AFL 360 host Gerard Whateley called the drawn-out process 'convoluted' on Wednesday night, with the saga about to enter its fourth day. 'That is an intolerably convoluted process, and it risks the AFL looking indecisive — perhaps behind the scenes they haven't been at all, but that's how it looks from the outside,' Whateley began on Fox Footy. 'It does make me wonder why Andrew Dillon and his legal team didn't go to Adelaide on Tuesday, sit in the board room and stay until matters were resolved. 'I think on a public front ... this is going to run all the way until game day of Round 24 — it's a nasty story. It's got an unsavoury edge, and some of the debate around it is it's damaging to the code.' Whateley expressed his belief that the Crows aren't acting 'in a contrite manner' as they continue to try for the most lenient possible suspension. 'My focus, really, is on Adelaide, who seem desperate to fight every angle of this,' he said. 'It's not a picture of accepting responsibility and acting in a contrite manner. And they are arguing the toss at every turn, formally and informally — (making the argument) finals games should be worth more than home-and-away games, even though there's no precedent in the system for that. 'They have gone with Rankine was provoked, which is a big stretch, I think — he was antagonised, but provoked is a big stretch. 'Informally, they've even raised Snoop Dogg. That's the domain of talkback radio, not a responsible footy club.' Whateley said there were 'three possibilities' that could have eventuated. 'Front up to what happened, pledge to address whatever it is in the environment that allowed this to happen, and accept what's coming,' he said. Former Demons captain Garry Lyon took a slightly different route to Whateley, suggesting the Crows were within their rights to 'fight and fight hard' to get Rankine off the hook — provided they also fall on their sword and accept the forthcoming penalty when the time comes. 'It's incumbent from a supporter's point of view to do the best job they possibly can to see if they can get Izak back playing,' Lyon said on AFL 360. 'Now, as unsavoury as that may sound, and as you've pointed it out, it smacks of them not wanting to take responsibility, I think they are entitled to argue their case as vociferously and as strongly as they possibly can, given the stakes that are at play — so long as they are accepting of the final verdict and it doesn't go too far. 'As a football club that's sitting on top of the ladder and are premiership favourites, there is a way to deal with it. And as I said, I don't begrudge them the right to fight and fight hard — even if that means getting in the trenches a bit — but there comes a time where you do need to show some humility and be accepting of the penalty, and that'll come.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Revealed: How AFL team will use Snoop Dogg as a defence as they try to get their star off the hook for using a shocking anti-gay slur during a match
The Adelaide Football Club is trying to reduce a proposed five-game suspension that is set to be handed to their player Izak Rankine by arguing that the AFL has committed a double standard in booking US rapper Snoop Dogg to perform at this year's Grand Final. Rankine is currently the subject of an investigation after he was accused of making a homophobic slur, allegedly calling an unnamed opponent a 'f****t', during the Crows' three-point victory against Collingwood on Saturday. Talks between the AFL and the Crows regarding the slur have stretched into the fourth day and it is now expected that a decision on his sanction will be announced at some point on Thursday. It is understood that the Crows have been given more time by the AFL to respond to the league for the proposed five-game penalty, which was unveiled by former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire on Tuesday. 'The AFL advises that the Adelaide Crows have requested additional time to respond to the AFL's proposed determinations regarding an alleged incident with player Izak Rankine,' AFL general manager of corporate affairs Jay Allen said in a statement. 'The AFL has granted this request and will provide an update on the matter tomorrow.' The Crows will deploy several arguments in their bid to reduce the severity of the sanction that Rankine will receive. One of those submissions references how the AFL has employed Snoop Dogg for their Grand Final entertainment. The US rapper has a 1998 hit called 'Doggz Gonna Get Ya' which uses the same slur, 'f****t', that Rankine is being investigated for. Snoop Dogg had also published a now-deleted image on Instagram in 2014 that showed two men together, with the rapper adding the caption: 'Go suck ya man n get off my line f.A.G'. However, the US rapper, known also as Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jnr, has stated that he is not homophobic, adding that he has friends who are gay. 'I don't have a problem with gay people. I got some gay homies,' he said in an interview with The Guardian back in 2013. Other footy commentators have called the AFL out on its decision to book the US rapper, considering the league's current stance on promoting a diverse and inclusive culture within the sport. AFL CEO Andrew Dillon published an LGBTQI+ Action Plan earlier this year in which the footy chief wrote: 'I want to be clear: there is absolutely no place for homophobia, biphobia, or transphobia – or any form of discrimination for that matter - in our game, workplace, or society.' The league has taken a strong stance against homophobia in the past two seasons by handing out heavy suspensions to multiple players. West Coast's Jack Graham was suspended last month for four games for making a 'highly offensive' homophobic slur towards a GWS Giants player. Sydney youngster Riak Andrew was suspended for five matches for a homophobic slur made in a VFL match. The Crows are set to put multiple arguments to the AFL. They will also claim that Rankine's remorse over the matter should be taken into consideration when assessing whether there should be a reduction in his suspension Several other players were suspended last year, with Suns player, Will Powell, receiving a five-match ban and Jeremy Finlayson, of Port Adelaide, being handed a three-match ban. The Crows, meanwhile, are on the cusp of playing in finals this year, with the premiership hopefuls looking to break their 27-year wait for a flag. However, it is looking likely they will be without small forward Rankine for the postseason fixtures. The 25-year-old has been a crucial cog in Matthew Nicks' side's surge to the top of the AFL ladder, booting 31 goals this season while also averaging 20 disposals a game, an above-average figure for the league this season. The Crows will to also argue arguing that Rankine has shown remorse by choosing to phone the Magpies player he allegedly made the slur to on Sunday morning to apologise. It comes as Tex Walker revealed this week that he had called his team-mate to check in on him and revealed that the contrite forward will 'accept whatever comes his way.' 'He's very remorseful and he understands that he's made a mistake and he'll accept whatever comes his way,' Walker told Triple M. 'He hasn't been outside. He had a full day of investigation with the AFL yesterday. 'We will support Ranks, however, we don't agree with what happened.' The Crows will also submit that Rankine was provoked by an incident with Dan Houston, in which the two players engaged in a heated war of words on the pitch. It came after Houston had knocked Rankine out during the Showdown clash and copped a five-week ban for the collision. The details of their conversation have not been revealed but it is understood that Houston had made reference to Rankine being carried off the field last year. Adelaide will face North Melbourne in their final regular-season match of the 2025 campaign. They are also arguing that suspensions for finals matches should be given greater weight than regular-season games. Collingwood boss Craig McRae revealed that he has checked in on the player subjected to the alleged homophobic slur. 'Yeah, I think so,' he said, when asked if the Collingwood player was OK. 'We had a good chat over the weekend and then again Monday morning just to check in, it's about making sure our players are safe,' McRae told reporters on Wednesday. 'But I don't want to demonise Izak either. 'Everyone is allowed to make mistakes, and the young lad seems like a really respectful young man and he's made an error.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
AFL news, updates: Izak Rankine handed season-ending ban in brutal blow to Adelaide Crows' premiership hopes as new explosive details into alleged behaviour come to light, homophobic slur revealed, wh
Adelaide star Izak Rankine has reportedly been handed a season-ending ban for a homophobic slur aimed at a Collingwood player on Saturday night, as explosive new details about the AFL's investigation into his conduct come to light. The 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 allegedly said a gay slur towards his Pies opponent. In the aftermath, the AFL launched a thorough investigation into the on-field comment and reportedly concluded on Tuesday that the conduct was deserving of a season-ending ban, in what would be a brutal blow for the Crows as they push for their first premiership since 1998. As of Wednesday morning, the AFL has not formally revealed the outcome of the investigation. 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. Rankine allegedly called his opponent a f****t, with the alleged 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'. Footy presenter Eddie McGuire claimed he had the early mail on the call on Channel 9's Footy Classified on Tuesday night that the Crows star's season was over. 'Izak Rankine's season is over,' he said. 'Tonight the AFL will send a letter to Adelaide and my understanding is the suspension is for five weeks. His season is finished in 2025. 'The Adelaide Football Club will have the opportunity to appeal the sanction, because they could argue it is unjust.' The reported suspension would see him miss a grand final as even a four-game ban could rub Rankine out for the rest of the season if the Crows won both qualifying and preliminary final. It is understood the Crows have written to the AFL highlighting extenuating circumstances, including another exchange with Collingwood defender Dan Houston. Houston is not the player Rankine delivered the alleged slur towards on Saturday night. Izak Rankine has reportedly copped a monster ban for using a homophobic slur. Image: Getty/Kayo And in another explosive twist, as the investigation enters its fourth day, Channel 7's Mitch Cleary revealed that Collingwood has played a major role in the inquiry into Rankine, bringing to light another alleged incident in a previous match. 'Izak Rankine allegedly delivered a similar slur towards a Collingwood opponent in a match several years ago,' Cleary wrote on X on Tuesday night. 'The incident hasn't been lost on Magpies players as the investigation into Rankine ramped up over the last 48 hours.' But understands that despite the AFL being made aware of the alleged prior indiscretion, the investigation into Rankine is only relating to Saturday's incident. Never miss the latest sports news from Australia and around the world — download the app direct to your phone. The two players had several push and shoves throughout the match. On Monday night, Fox Footy's AFL 360 showed multiple incidents of Rankine engaging in heated exchanges with Collingwood's Isaac Quaynor. 'It was a tense night; it was physically played in close quarters, and Rankine was involved in various stages in heated battles with Isaac Quaynor, which then spilt to other opponents,' Gerard Whateley said on AFL 360. Watch the incidents in the video player at the top of the page. Izak Rankine is expected to miss the remainder of the 2025 season in a crushing blow to the Crows' premiership hopes. (Photo by) 'The other players on the field were well aware of what had been said, and yesterday Collingwood contacted Adelaide to inform them of what was known. Adelaide then handed it over to the AFL Integrity Unit, who have conducted their investigation today; both players have been spoken to, Rankine at about 4pm to understand his version of events. 'These are dealt with as summary judgments; there's no Tribunal hearing or the like … in a very real way, I think these have been Andrew Dillon's calls.' Rankine is understood to have apologised to the Pies player over the phone on Sunday. And according to his teammate Taylor Walker on Tuesday, the Crows forward is incredible remorseful and deeply regrets his actions. 'I spoke to him last night on the phone, and he's very remorseful, and he understands that he's made a mistake, and he'll accept whatever comes his way,' Walker said on Triple M Breakfast on Tuesday. 'He hasn't been outside, and yeah, he had a full day of investigation with the AFL yesterday, and until such time the sanction is handed down, I can't comment on that. 'What I can comment on is that our footy club is a very positive and supportive environment, and we will do, we will support ranks, however, we don't agree with what happened.' Rankine's AFL career started with the Suns in 2018, after being drafted as the third pick. Injuries delayed his debut until 2020, where he immediately took the sport by storm, booting three goals. Two years later, he was traded to his boyhood club, the Adelaide Crows, where he has transformed into one of the most lethal forwards in the AFL. AFL's previous bans for 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 Lance Collard (July, 2024) – six game suspension Jack Graham (July, 2025) – four game suspension Riak Andrew (July, 2025) – five game suspension The AFL has made a point of compounding the penalty each time an offence occurs. However, the AFL has since gone back on its word stating at the end of last season they will consider 'specific circumstances in each incident in determining appropriate responses and does not consider that it is bound by the level of sanctions that it has previously imposed for similar incidents.' But with this being the sixth instance of an anti-gay slur being used in the past 16 months, the AFL is understandably fed up and wanting to make a statement.
