Sydney Swans listed participant Riak Andrew might be suspended from VFL and AFL matches for 5 weeks, after being discovered responsible of utilizing a “extremely offensive homophobic slur”.
The incident occurred in a VFL match final weekend, the place Andrew was discovered to have made a slur in direction of a North Melbourne opponent throughout the first quarter.
The incident was reported to an umpire by North Melbourne on the finish of the quarter.
Andrew may also undertake Pleasure in Sport training, in keeping with a media launch from the league.
“It’s important that we proceed to clarify that homophobia or homophobic language has no place in our sport at any degree or within the wider group, for that matter,” AFL Common Counsel Stephen Meade stated.
“It’s disappointing to be coping with one other incident, and whereas we are going to at all times study the person circumstances, the clear message is that this language will not be acceptable in any office, and that features on the sector of play.”
The incident involving Andrew comes barely every week after West Coast midfielder Jack Graham was handed a four-match ban for utilizing a homophobic slur throughout a match towards the GWS Giants.
Three AFL gamers had been suspended for utilizing homophobic slurs throughout matches in 2024.
Gold Coast’s Wil Powell (5 matches) and Port Adelaide’s Jeremy Finlayson (three matches) had been banned within the AFL.
St Kilda’s Lance Collard obtained a six-match penalty following a slur made in direction of two Williamstown gamers in a VFL fixture.
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