Australian Rules-Adelaide footballer banned for four weeks for homophobic slur

21/8/2025 15:53

Adelaide Crows forward Izak Rankine has been banned for four weeks for directing a homophobic slur at an opponent, all but ruling him out of the Australian Football League's (AFL) playoffs in a blow for his team's championship push.



The AFL said on Thursday Rankine would also need to undertake further "Pride in Sport" training after finding he had used a "highly offensive" slur during the Crows' home win over Collingwood on Saturday.



The AFL is the top flight of Australian Rules football.



"In an AFL environment, this behaviour is not acceptable," AFL General Counsel Stephen Meade said in a statement.



"Homophobia has no place in football. The suspension is significant, but stamping out vilification in our game is incredibly important."



The AFL did not say which word Rankine had used.



He is the sixth AFL player to be suspended for the offence in two seasons.



"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," Rankine said in a club statement.