今日吃瓜

Port Adelaide AFL player after saying a homophobic slur against an Essendon Bombers player on Friday April 5th.聽

The slur was picked up by on-field microphones worn by umpires, and was called out by other Bombers players. Finlayson reported the incident at the three-quarter time break, and also apologised to the currently unknown victim after the game ended.聽

In a statement released by Port Adelaide, Finlayson shared regret at his usage of the word and said that he immediately acknowledged it was wrong.聽

鈥淭he words I used were very unacceptable in the game of football and we need to stamp it out, and I鈥檓 very remorseful,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 knew straight away that it鈥檚 not acceptable, and I take full responsibility for that.

鈥淚 let everyone know what happened, and now it鈥檚 in the hands of the AFL to investigate.鈥澛�

AFL spokesperson He said: 鈥淎FL Integrity Unit are now investigating and we will provide an update once that investigation is completed.鈥澛�

This follows an incident in March where North Melbourne coach for homophobic slurs directed at St Kilda players after an incident during a practice match.

Responses to Jeremy Finlayson鈥檚 apology

Following Finlayson鈥檚 remarks on Friday night, there have been a number of responses to both Finlayson’s actions and the AFL’s response.

Gay TikToker Scott O鈥橦alloran (@Scottscotto) posted a furious rant about the AFL鈥檚 homophobia problem on Sunday April 7th, citing the fact there have been two incidents this year.

Thinking of the gay AFL players today !

O鈥橦alloran said: 鈥淚 am asking the AFL to reconsider Alastair Clarkson鈥檚 punishment and to take this into consideration when it comes to Jeremy Finlayson, because in any other organisation in Australia you would immediately lose your role for speaking to a colleague like this.鈥澛�

鈥淭here has never been a gay AFL player that has come out of the closet and I wonder why. It comes from the top down.鈥澛�

Meanwhile, Port Adelaide chairman and former Sunrise host David Koch appeared on ABC Offsiders where he seemed to downplay Finalyson鈥檚 actions.聽

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.

— ABC SPORT (@abcsport)

He said: 鈥淸Clarkson鈥檚 incident] is very different to a player in the heat of battle, when there was a lot of niggle in the game鈥� absolutely no excuse, not condoning it and should not be part of the game. But if you鈥檙e looking at comparisons, there鈥檚 the benchmark.鈥�

Koch also said that it was 鈥渘ot realistic鈥� that the slur was as bad as Taylor Walker鈥檚 racial slur in 2021.聽

AFL fans responded on X/Twitter outraged by Koch鈥檚 statements, with writer Michael O鈥橠onnell echoing general sentiment surrounding the comments:聽

A bit of 鈥渘iggle鈥� in the game is no excuse – or defence – for homophobic slurs.

Kids hear this stuff. Gay fans hear this stuff. It鈥檚 not acceptable, it hurts, and it鈥檚 incredibly damaging.

— Michael O'Donnell (@TheMikeOD)

Finlayson is currently awaiting the results of the AFL Integrity Unit鈥檚 investigation into the incident.