- Crows star heads to Europe after being rubbed out for four weeks
Footy star Izak Rankine has decided to leave the country following his ban for four games by the AFL for using a homophobic slur during a match.
The Adelaide player left Australia on Friday evening to train at a European facility after being granted leave from the Crows, reports Seven News.
Rankine was the sixth AFL-listed player suspended for a homophobic slur against an opponent in the past 16 months.
The star Crow will only play again this season if Adelaide lose a qualifying final en route to the grand final.
Rankine admitted directing a homophobic slur to an unnamed Collingwood opponent in Adelaide’s three-point win.
‘Izak has said he knew it was not acceptable,’ the AFL’s general counsel Stephen Meade said in a statement announcing the four-game ban.
Izak Rankine (pictured) has decided to leave the country following his ban for four games
The Adelaide lynchpin can play in the grand final – but only if his side lose a qualifying final on their way to the year’s biggest match
‘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.’
Adelaide reportedly made strong representations to the AFL to get his ban reduced, including bringing up homophobic lyrics and remarks made by rapper Snoop Dogg, who has been hired by the league to perform at this year’s grand final.
However, the AFL decided on four matches instead of five due to the Crows providing the league with what the league called ‘compelling medical reasons’ to reduce the ban.
It is believed those reasons revolve around the possible effect of a season-ending ban on Rankine’s mental health.
He has also been ordered to undertake training with the Pride in Sport organisation, which provides education on LGBTQ issues.
The 25-year-old apologised to the Magpies player last Sunday as the AFL’s integrity unit launched an investigation, and apologised again after the ban was handed down.
Rankine (pictured with Calista Mittiga) is the sixth AFL-listed player banned for an on-field homophobic slur since April last year
‘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,’ he said in a 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.’
Last month, West Coast’s Jack Graham was banned four games for a homophobic remark to a GWS player.
In April last year, Port Adelaide’s Jeremy Finlayson was suspended for three games and, the following month, Gold Coast’s Wil Powell was suspended five matches, both for directing homophobic slurs at opponents.
The lengths of those bans contributed to the widespread speculation that Rankine would be handed a five-match suspension.
