“Port Adelaide AFL Player Jeremy Finlayson Issues Apology for Homophobic Slur Directed at Essendon Bombers Player”
Port Adelaide AFL player Jeremy Finlayson has issued an apology after making a homophobic slur against an Essendon Bombers player on Friday, April 5th. The offensive remark was captured by on-field microphones worn by umpires and was subsequently reported by other Bombers players.
Port president David Koch says it's "not realistic" to compare the Jeremy Finlayson homophobic slur incident to Taylor Walker's 2021 racial slur incident.
He says he expects the sanction to be closer to Alastair Clarkson's earlier this year.#Offsiders pic.twitter.com/t4Svc1TAwz
— ABC SPORT (@abcsport) April 7, 2024
Finlayson reported the incident during the three-quarter time break and later apologized to the unidentified victim after the game concluded.
In a statement released by Port Adelaide, Finlayson expressed regret over his use of the derogatory language, acknowledging its inappropriateness.
“The words I used were very unacceptable in the game of football, and we need to stamp it out, and I’m very remorseful,” he stated. “I knew straight away that it’s not acceptable, and I take full responsibility for that. I let everyone know what happened, and now it’s in the hands of the AFL to investigate.”
AFL spokesperson Jay Allen confirmed that the League is treating the matter “extremely seriously,” with the AFL Integrity Unit conducting an investigation. This incident follows a similar one in March where North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson was fined $20,000 and suspended for homophobic slurs directed at St Kilda players during a practice match.
Responses to Finlayson’s apology have been mixed. Gay TikToker Scott O’Halloran criticized the AFL’s handling of the issue, urging the organization to reconsider Clarkson’s punishment and to address the broader issue of homophobia in the sport. Port Adelaide chairman David Koch appeared to downplay Finlayson’s actions during an appearance on ABC Offsiders, drawing criticism from AFL fans on social media platforms.
Finlayson awaits the outcome of the AFL Integrity Unit’s investigation into the incident.
