The AFL has acted swiftly and has sacked AFL Appeals Board chair William Houghton KC after he and his board delivered comments on St Kilda player Lance Collard's reduced suspension that were condemned throughout the AFL community.
The hearing, which occurred on Thursday evening, saw Collard's suspension for allegedly using a homophobic slur - his second time being suspended for a homophobic slur - cut from a nine-game ban to a four-game ban with two matches already served.
Houghton and his board then appeared to justify Collard's alleged homophobic slur in a bizarre and outdated take.
"We observe that football is a hard game," the comment read.
"It is highly competitive, particularly at its higher levels. It is commonplace that players can employ language from time to time that is racist, sexist or homophobic whilst on the field."
On Friday, the AFL released a statement condemning the Appeals Board's reasoning for the reduced suspension.
"That sanction reflected the seriousness of using a homophobic slur on the field and was intended to set a clear standard for our game - particularly given this was a second offence," AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said.
"The Appeals Board last night reduced the sanction to a four-match suspension, with two matches suspended until the end of next year. In our view, stronger action was not only warranted – it was necessary.
"Let me be clear: homophobia has no place in Australian football. Not at any level. Not under any circumstances."
