- Finlayson faces league punishment for vile outburst
- Port Adelaide star could be in line for long suspension
- Influencer criticized the league for not taking drastic measures
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Popular TikTokker Scott O’Halloran has hit out at the AFL for not doing enough to eradicate homophobia after football star Jeremy Finlayson’s shocking homophobic slur against an Essendon player.
Finlayson formally apologized for the insult during his team’s victory on Friday night as he awaits the outcome of an AFL investigation.
The incident occurred during the third quarter of the Power’s 69-point victory 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.
Scott O’Halloran blamed the AFL for not doing more to stamp out homophobia after Port Power star Jeremy Finlayson (left) hit an Essendon player with an anti-gay slur on Friday night.
Finlayson (pictured with wife Kellie) humiliatedly apologized after the match and also spoke to his victim on the pitch.
‘The word I used is very unacceptable in football. “We need to end this and I am very sorry.”
O’Halloran stripped down the AFL in an Instagram post on Sunday night, referring to the Alastair Clarkson case.
North Melbourne’s coach was fined $20,000 and suspended two games for using the word ‘c**ks***er’ in a heated exchange with two St Kilda players during pre-season.
“The AFL has a big problem on their hands and they are to blame,” O’Halloran said.
‘Alastair Clarkson, an AFL coach, used a homophobic slur and all he received was a small fine compared to the man’s salary, and it clearly hasn’t deterred the player, Jeremy Finlayson, from using a homophobic slur on the field . .
“I’m calling on the AFL to reconsider Alastair Clarkson’s punishment and take that into account when it comes to Jeremy Finlayson, because in any other organization in Australia you would immediately lose your role for speaking to a colleague like this.
A furious O’Halloran (pictured) said the league’s failure to crack down enough on homophobia is the reason the AFL has never had an openly gay player.
The social media star pointed to the fact that Alastair Clarkson (pictured) was fined but not banned from games after an alleged homophobic outburst in pre-season.
‘The mental health cost to our community outweighs these small fines.
‘AFL, you’re supposed to be a leader.
“There has never been a gay AFL player who has come out and I wonder why.
“It comes from the top down.”
O’Halloran’s comments came as football fans lashed out at Port president David Koch for comments he made about Sunday’s insult.
The former Sunrise presenter was accused of defending homophobia on the ABC TV show Offsiders saying Finlayson should be treated the same as Clarkson because a “benchmark” has now been set for sanctions for anti-gay slurs.
He also said Finlayson’s case cannot be compared to that of Crows star Taylor Walker, who was suspended for six games for an on-field racial slur in 2021.
Port president David Koch (pictured with Power star Travis Boak after a game) was also criticized by fans who thought he downplayed the severity of Finlayson’s outburst.
It is understood that a referee’s microphone picked up Finlayson’s insult and several players heard it.
Port Adelaide said Finlayson, who scored three goals in 19 disposals against the Bombers, informed the club of the comment during the three-quarter break.
He spoke to the victim on the field to apologize 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.
“I continue to reflect and improve myself, getting all the education I can to improve.”