Two openly gay footballers have called on the AFL to fine and suspend Port Adelaide’s Jeremy Finlayson following the homophobic slur he made at an Essendon player during Gather Round.
It comes as Port Adelaide president David Koch has been criticized for his response to the issue.
Finlayson, 28, is still awaiting punishment from the AFL Integrity Unit as they continue to investigate the insult.
Chief executive Andrew Dillon confirmed on Monday that the punishment will be handed out before this week’s matches begin on Thursday.
The football star’s insult was caught on a referee’s microphone at Adelaide Oval on Friday night, and was also shouted by Essendon players.
Two openly gay footballers have called on the AFL to suspend Port’s Jeremy Finlayson (pictured left) following the homophobic slur he uttered during the Gather Round.
Openly gay football player turned LGBTI advocate Jason Ball (pictured middle) called Jeremy Finlayson’s shocking attack “harmful to people and damaging to our game”.
A remorseful Finlayson informed the club three-quarters of time that he had used the insult and then apologized to the player at the end of the half.
Jason Ball, a former Victorian amateur footballer who came out publicly in 2012, said Finlayson’s insult was another example of why “no AFL player has ever felt comfortable coming out”.
“This incident should be treated in the same way the AFL would deal with a racist slur,” he said. News Corporation.
‘Both (racism and gay slurs) are bad for people and bad for our game. We need education for players and coaches and proactive campaigns to eradicate homophobic language, whether on the field or in the stands, at the elite level and at the grassroots.’
Michael O’Donnell, who plays for the UNSW Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs in Sydney and is openly gay, said local football clubs have been incredibly inclusive of his sexuality.
He also found Finlayson’s insult “incredibly disappointing”.
“I think it’s an opportunity for the AFL to show that this is no longer acceptable in football, that it’s not like 20 or 25 years ago when these types of comments were much more common,” he said.
Port Adelaide president David Koch has come under fire after suggesting a two-match suspended ban and a hefty fine is the “benchmark” in terms of punishment for Finlayson.
Meanwhile, on April 7, Koch appeared on the ABC show. Outsiders program and left some football fans furious when asked about the severity of the punishment the league could impose on Finlayson.
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 we’re going to make a comparison, that (Clarkson’s penalty) would be the benchmark.”
first Sunrise The 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.
“I don’t think it’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.
Comments like this from Australian actor Matthew Backer summed up the thoughts of many football fans who took to social media to lash out at Port Adelaide president David 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.
“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.
“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 another 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,” said another.
Finlayson has since expressed remorse for his conduct.
“I knew immediately that it was not acceptable and I take full responsibility,” he said.
‘I addressed it at the time and… let everyone know what happened, and now it’s up to the AFL to investigate.
“I continue to reflect and improve myself, getting all the education I can to improve.”