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- Izak Rankine’s suspension still not handed down
- Adelaide Crows star is facing a five-game ban
Fed-up footy identities and fans have slammed the AFL over its handling of the homophobic slur saga involving Adelaide Crows star Izak Rankine.
The midfielder, 25, is facing a five-game ban from the league after he referred to a Collingwood player as a ‘fa***t’ on August 16 at Adelaide Oval.
The AFL has a zero tolerance policy for on-field slurs, with West Coast’s Jack Graham banned for four games last month after making a homophobic remark to a GWS Giants player.
In April last year, Port Adelaide’s Jeremy Finlayson was banned for three games, then the following month Gold Coast’s Will Powell was suspended for five matches, both for homophobic slurs.
Even superstar US rapper Snoop Dogg has been swept up in the controversy given some of his lyrics and social media posts have featured anti-gay remarks.
As part of their submission for Rankine, Adelaide plan to point out that the AFL is guilty of double standards given Snoop Dogg is set to perform at the AFL Grand Final at the MCG next month.
Fed up footy identities and fans have slammed the AFL over its handling of the homophobic slur saga involving Adelaide Crows star Izak Rankine (pictured)
The midfielder is facing a five-game ban from the league after he referred to a Collingwood player as a ‘fa***t’ on August 16 at Adelaide Oval
West Coast premiership player Will Schofield labelled the Rankine situation ‘a complete joke’ on X – and plenty share the view of the footy podcast host.
Responding to Schofield, one footy supporter posted: ‘I think the AFL have proved time and time again, it only comes down to who you are, who you play for and if you are playing finals. Absolute sh*t show.’
Another said: ‘This is a perfect take. AFL have painted themselves into a corner.’
A third offered: ‘AFL have dug themselves a big hole and the walls are caving in.’
‘Absolutely absurd the AFL has allowed this Izak Rankine case to drag on for so long,’ wrote premiership-winning Hawks great Campbell Brown.
Respected broadcaster and AFL 360 host Gerard Whateley labelled the drawn-out process ‘convoluted’ on Wednesday night, with the saga about to enter its fifth day.
‘It has been an intolerably convoluted process, and it appears the AFL have been indecisive. Perhaps behind the scenes they haven’t been at all, but that’s how it looks from the outside,’ Whateley stated on Fox Footy.
‘It does make me wonder why (AFL CEO) Andrew Dillon and his legal team didn’t go to Adelaide on Tuesday, sit in the boardroom and stay until matters were resolved.
West Coast premiership player turned footy podcast host Will Schofield labelled the Rankine situation ‘a complete joke’ on X
Another footy fan feels the ‘AFL have dug themselves a big hole and the walls are caving in’
This cynical footy supporter believes the AFL determines suspensions based on the player or the club he plays for, not the offence committed
Hawthorn legend Campbell Brown posted on X: ‘Absolutely absurd the AFL has allowed this Izak Rankine case to drag on for so long’
‘It is a nasty story, with an unsavoury edge, and some of the debate around it is damaging to the code.’
Rankine is set to be the sixth AFL-listed player suspended for a homophobic remark to an opponent in the past 16 months.
Meanwhile, Adelaide Crows coach Matthew Nicks admitted the intense spotlight on Rankine and his club in recent days has been a distraction ahead of his team’s clash with North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium this Saturday.
A win will seal the minor premiership for Adelaide plus two home semi-finals.
They also haven’t played finals footy since 2017.
‘We are supporting Izak because it is a tough thing to go through, and he knows it’s going to be tough from here,’ Nicks said.
‘But we’ll work our way through it.’
