Port Adelaide president David Koch has come under fire for his response to the homophobic slur Power star Jeremy Finlayson used against an opponent during Friday night’s match.
Finlayson humiliatedly apologized for the ugly incident, which occurred in the third quarter of the Power’s 69-point win over the Bombers at Adelaide Oval during the Gather Round.
“I take full responsibility for what occurred on Friday night,” Finlayson said in a statement issued by Port Adelaide on Sunday.
‘The word I used is very unacceptable in football. “We need to end this and I am very sorry.”
Power chairman David Koch (pictured at a Port Adelaide match) has angered football fans with his comments over Jeremy Finlayson’s homophobic slur.
Finlayson (pictured) used the insult during Port’s victory over Essendon on Friday night. He apologized to the victim after the match and now faces punishment from the AFL.
It is understood that a referee’s microphone picked up the insult and several players heard it.
Finlayson now faces punishment from the AFL, which is investigating the incident.
On Sunday, Koch appeared on ABC’s Offsiders and left some fans furious when he was asked about the severity of the punishment the league could impose.
He referred to the case of North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson, who was fined $20,000 and given a two-match suspension for allegedly using the word “c**ks***er” in a heated exchange with two St Kilda players during the match. preseason.
“If you look at the comparisons, and you have to establish reference points, with a 55-year-old coach, premeditated, pointing at the player, walking towards him, it is very different to a player in the heat of battle, when there is many problems in the game, the pressure; Again, there is absolutely no excuse, it cannot be tolerated,” Koch said.
“But if you’re going to make a comparison, that [Clarkson’s penalty] would be the reference point.’
The former Sunrise host was then asked if he thought it was in the same category as 2021 Crows star Taylor Walker’s on-field racial slur, which saw him suspended for six games and fined $20,000.
Koch (pictured with Travis Boak after a match in 2017) said Finlayson should be treated the same as Alastair Clarkson, who was not forced to miss a match after allegedly using a homophobic slur against two St Kilda players in the preseason.
Comments like this one from Australian actor Matthew Backer summed up the thoughts of many soccer fans who took to social media to lash out at Koch.
The former Sunrise host was accused of downplaying the seriousness of Finlayson’s shocking act as he said it cannot be compared to Crow star Taylor Walker’s on-field racial slur in 2021, which resulted in his six-game suspension.
“I don’t think that’s realistic…I think the benchmark has already been set.” [with the Clarkson incident].’
Football fans criticized Koch, accusing him of trying to excuse Finlayson’s actions by saying that he, like Clarkson, did not deserve to miss any games.
‘Yes, no @kochie_online. An insult is an insult is an insult. You say that you don’t tolerate a player using a homophobic slur on the field and that there is no excuse, but in the same sentence you practically excuse it by saying that it happened “in the heat of battle” and a “thing.” “It’s very disappointing,” wrote Australian actor Matthew Backer.
“An absolutely ridiculous performance by David Koch,” another commenter wrote.
“David Koch: Homophobia is okay, but racism is not,” added a third.
“Imagine if the roles were reversed @kochie_online would want to suspend the player,” one fan predicted, with another adding: “Is David Koch a hypocrite when one of his team’s players is affected?!?” Disgusting surprise.’
“This is pretty disgusting of Koch,” wrote journalist Greg Jericho.
Finlayson (pictured left during Friday night’s victory) was congratulated by South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas for quickly apologizing after using the slur.
“It is appalling and sends the wrong message to others that there are different levels of homophobic slurs and this should be considered less. “There should be no excuses for any player, coach, official, member of the public or anyone who chooses to defame others. Koch is wrong,” said one fan.
‘No AFL male player has been OPENLY gay while playing for a top-tier team. Not one. Never. Statistically it is nonsense that there are no gay men in the AFL. “Attitudes like Koch’s are the reason everyone is in the closet,” another added.
“The ‘some offensive and discriminatory slurs are more offensive and discriminatory than others’ defense is a very low and offensive bar,” said one commenter.
Finlayson spoke to the rival he insulted after the final siren.
“I knew immediately it was not acceptable and I take full responsibility,” Finlayson said.
‘I addressed it at the time and… let everyone know what happened, and now it’s up to the AFL to investigate.
One fan said insults like the one Finlayson (pictured) made, and reactions like Koch’s, are the reason the AFL has never had an openly gay current player.
“I continue to reflect and improve myself, getting all the education I can to improve.”
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said it was a credit to Finlayson that he recognized his mistake.
“People make mistakes, we all make them,” Malinauskas said Sunday.
“It is a great credit to Jeremy that he quickly apologized and acknowledged the mistake he made.”
‘That is the action of someone who has done something wrong and acted with integrity in following it.
“Obviously people will comment on how disappointing it is, but here we have a young man who made a mistake and owned it.”
The AFL Integrity Unit investigation is ongoing.