Gold Coast Suns defender Wil Powell has been banned for five games for making homophobic slurs towards opponents the Brisbane Lions

Gold Coast Suns defender Wil Powell has been suspended for five games by the AFL’s Integrity Unit for directing a homophobic slur at a Brisbane opponent during Sunday’s game.

The Suns said Powell informed the club that he made the comment during the game and a subsequent investigation found him guilty.

This incident comes just weeks after Port Adelaide’s Jeremy Finlayson was banned for three games for using a homophobic slur in a game.

During pre-season, North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson was fined $20,000 after making a homophobic comment towards St Kilda players Jimmy Webster and Dougal Howard.

The AFL said the increase in Powell’s penalty was due to its “deep concern at the recurrence of this incident in close proximity to the last incident and the intention to further deter such behavior in the future”.

Gold Coast chief executive Mark Evans said while he understood the AFL needed to respond strongly to such comments and agreed Powell deserved punishment, the club was not entirely happy with the length of the suspension imposed.

“Given previous cases, the level of sanctions was difficult to navigate,” Evans said.

“We respect that the AFL has a responsibility to continue education and leadership on this matter.”

“But the extent of the sanctions has caused us some problems.”

Port Adelaide’s Jeremy Finlayson has been suspended for three games for a similar incident.(AAP: Morgan Hancock)

The AFL said it made it clear after the Finlayson incident that future cases would be punished more harshly.

“It is extremely disappointing to be faced with a similar incident in just a few weeks,” AFL general counsel Stephen Meade said.

“The AFL recognizes Powell’s remorse and cooperation and while it has taken into account the circumstances in which the comment was made, there is no excuse for this behavior in our game.”

“We have predicted both publicly and privately that following what happened at the Gather Round, there would be further consequences if a similar incident were to occur.

“There couldn’t be a clearer message – homophobia has no place in our game or in society. We want everyone in the community to feel welcome in our game, and comments like Powell’s only detract from that. As a code, as a…” community, we all need to do better.

Powell has publicly apologized and contacted the Lions player involved.

The Suns posted a video on their social channels Thursday afternoon in which Powell explained his actions and offered another apology.

“On Sunday evening there was a heated confrontation between myself and a Brisbane Lions player during which I accidentally uttered a homophobic word,” Powell said.

“I deeply regret what I said that night and when I said it I felt remorse. I apologized to the Brisbane Lions player several times via text message during the night and after the game.”

“I am very sorry for what I said. It will never happen again.”

“I would like to apologize to anyone who may be affected by this as the word I used is a homophobic slur. To all the relevant groups that may be affected by this, and to all the people surrounding those groups, I hope that you will take my apology as seriously as it comes.” It pains me very much to say this.

“I fully accept the punishment that has been imposed on me. I will continue to work during this time.”

Posted 2 hours agoThu, May 9, 2024, 2:23 a.m, Updated 42 minutes agoThu, May 9, 2024 at 4:31 am

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