AFL Player Collard Suspended for Homophobic Remarks
St Kilda footballer Lance Collard must miss seven games for homophobic remarks. The AFL tribunal found his conduct during a VFL match serious enough for suspension.
St Kilda forward Lance Collard receives seven-game suspension. The AFL tribunal ruled the 21-year-old used homophobic language during a VFL match.
The ruling is significant. Seven games is a substantial penalty in Australian football. The tribunal wanted to send a clear message. Discrimination has no place in sport, the message states. Collard will be sidelined for considerable time.
St Kilda has now distanced itself from the player's behavior. The club takes such mistakes very seriously. Collard has not publicly commented on the incident. The investigation confirmed he used the slur during the match.
The case follows previous incidents in Australian football. The sport regularly must reflect on discrimination and respect. This suspension marks that boundaries are being set. For Collard, a period of reflection off-field now begins.