Overview

• The AFL integrity unit found Izak Rankine guilty of using a homophobic slur and suspended him for four games, reduced from an initial five after medical submissions, with mandatory Pride In Sport training ordered.
• Returning from club-supported training leave in Italy, Rankine told reporters he takes full responsibility and said he is in no way a victim.
• During Sunday’s SANFL qualifying final at Adelaide Oval, a boundary umpire reported a fan abusing Glenelg captain Liam McBean with the same slur, leading to the spectator’s immediate eviction.
• Adelaide Oval management said code-of-conduct breaches may be referred to SA Police for identification and could trigger punishments including stadium bans.
• The Crows declined to appeal the sanction as AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said finals timing did not influence the penalty, and Rankine is the sixth AFL-listed player suspended for on-field homophobic language in the past two seasons.