AFL Appeal Board Reduces Ban for Homophobic Language

By Kyle Pollard

Topic: AFL

Lance Collard's ban was reduced for using homophobic language.

In short:

Lance Collard's ban was reduced from seven weeks to two weeks.

The appeal board said the game's competitive nature makes homophobic language common.

What's next?

Collard can play after four weeks due to another ban and a suspended sentence.

The appeal board's reasoning has been criticized for saying racist and homophobic language is common in the AFL.

Collard is now banned for two weeks with a further two-week penalty suspended.

The appeal board agreed the initial penalty was too harsh.

This is the second time Collard has been found guilty of using homophobic language.

The board said offensive language is common in the game.

Football is a hard game and players often use racist or homophobic language.

The AFL's efforts to stop these comments seem to be working.

A former AFLW star is upset by the appeal board's reasoning.

She said the decision goes against the AFL's zero-tolerance policy.

The decision is disgusting.

St Kilda wants more consistency in the AFL tribunal system.

The club will support Lance Collard during this challenging time.

St Kilda is disappointed with how the matter was handled.

Collard was charged with conduct unbecoming over a confrontation.

He faced the tribunal and was found guilty.

The tribunal rejected Collard's evidence and sanctioned him.

The appeal board's reasoning is available.

The board must consider each case on its own facts.

Collard's sanction was cumulative to his two-week suspension.

The tribunal considered several matters in its decision.

Previous decisions suggested a range of penalties for using homophobic language.

The tribunal relied on a prior conviction of Collard.

The prior conduct was worse than the present incident.

Football is a hard game and players can use racist language.

The AFL's efforts to eliminate comments are succeeding.

The appeal board does not want to impose a crippling penalty.

A penalty of this extent would finish Collard's career.

The board notes several factors in regard to Collard.

Collard's previous misconduct was more serious.

Collard is a young indigenous man with a difficult background.

The recipient of the remark was not offended.

Collard had been struck and verbally challenged by opponents.

The board considered general and specific deterrence.

The appeal board thinks the sanction was manifestly excessive.

The board imposes a new sanction of four weeks with two weeks suspended.

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