NO TROLLS Rankine handed a 4 match suspension by the AFL integrity unit for a homophobic slur against opponent

[SSSSSS]

Irrelevant.

You made a false statement.

Sectarianism from the late 18th, 19th and early 20th century between two Christian denominations is totally comparable to the historical and ongoing persecution of the LGTBQ+ community (by the very same Christian denominations) of which is still relevant today.

No one's getting 4 weeks in the AFL for calling someone a dirty Fenian.

 

[DangerSloane]

Whilst true one soft as butter punishment and blame Laura and co for that, doesn't mean you continue to be soft. Look what is appropriate who knows, but out for the season is fair and it's what is probably needed for other players.

I don't feel bad for Issac, he's the bloke that's put himself into this mess, I feel for the innocent Crows supporters.

I agree Isaac is to blame.

This is all presuming that he is guilty of what we're presuming.

If its is what it appears then I'm sure he will be banned accordingly.

It just reeks though that a player can be playing while on a curfew for severe violence, another can play unimpeded after making death threats to opponents, but a poor choice of words is punished far more severely.

 

[Lingsface]

I'm going to avoid answering on those pronouns if that's okay, I just don't want to say something that some on here may take offence to. One thing I will say I do try and get those right for everyone and as people we should at least try.

It's not hard to not use slurs, it's just not. How would you feel if your son or daughter is in the LGBT group? It's already marginalised, can we not have players using slurs period, it's actually not that hard. You are taught about this when you are 12 years old at school. I get footy is in the heat of battle but it still doesn't let you use slurs

You are right, my want to see Rankine in finals series is getting in the way of my logic. It shouldn't be tolerated even if it wasn't directed with any hate towards the homosexual community and was a slip of the tongue. He is old enough to have control.

 

[Philhawk]

I said the same thing when other players were banned.

Regardless of which team it is...do you not agree that its wildly hypocritical?

Not hypocritical, more inconsistent.

 

[iameviljez]

Bullshit.

Catholics were most definitely persecuted in Australia.

This is true, but that's a Protestant vs Catholic thing, not an atheist-vs-Christian.

 

[ABAB]

If you don’t agree with the harsh punishments for slurs. Fine, I’m sure you aren’t alone.

But how do you propose the afl undo the suspensions for Graham, Jiath, Finlayson etc if they go lenient on Rankine?

Well, Graham and Powell got 4 and 6 weeks and they "self reported" and Finalyson got 3 weeks. How do you propose the AFL undo the suspension of Finalyson and give him another 1 to 3 weeks????

 

[Bostonian]

Sectarianism from the late 18th, 19th and early 20th century between two Christian denominations is totally comparable to the historical and ongoing persecution of the LGTBQ+ community (by the very same Christian denominations) of which is still relevant today.

No one's getting 4 weeks in the AFL for calling someone a dirty Fenian.

Are you sure about that?

What would the penalty be if someone called a player a dirty Muslim?

 

[DangerSloane]

Not sure Ranking is going to put on home detention for this, but it would be funny!

Funny he doesnt seem to be detained at home running around on the MCG of a Saturday afternoon.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

You are right, my want to see Rankine in finals series is getting in the way of my logic. It shouldn't be tolerated even if it wasn't directed with any hate towards the homosexual community and was a slip of the tongue. He is old enough to have control.

Yep look I want Issac in the finals too but honestly I’m so over players saying things “in the heat of battle”. Just don’t do it have self control

 

[Wargreymon90]

Well, Graham and Powell got 4 and 6 weeks and they "self reported" and Finalyson got 3 weeks. How do you propose the AFL undo the suspension of Finalyson and give him another 1 to 3 weeks????

Didn’t the afl mention an escalating system to stamp it out? If so, Rankine could be looking at 6-8?

What are your thoughts?

 

[Bostonian]

This is true, but that's a Protestant vs Catholic thing, not an atheist-vs-Christian.

Well you can say whatever you like about Christians in 2025.

I'm an atheist and it's that obvious.

 

[10571z]

Massive overaction by the AFL suspending players for 1/4 of the season for calling players names.

 

[ABAB]

Didn’t the afl mention an escalating system to stamp it out? If so, Rankine could be looking at 6-8?

What are your thoughts?

Stupid, as it clearly isn't working. I thought 3 weeks was excessive for Finalyson as well.

 

[danman69]

Ban him for the year, make a statement.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I agree Isaac is to blame.

This is all presuming that he is guilty of what we're presuming.

If its is what it appears then I'm sure he will be banned accordingly.

It just reeks though that a player can be playing while on a curfew for severe violence, another can play unimpeded after making death threats to opponents, but a poor choice of words is punished far more severely.

Look the Balta one was a shocking look and we had some Tigers supporters thinking it wasn’t fair. It should never have been left to the courts to impose the punishment.

That said one horrible decision from the AFL doesn’t mean Issac can be let off lightly. This is all on him

 

[Romeoh1]

Ah well- if it is found to be factual, he will cop weeks and deservedly so. And what a top eejit.

 

[justlookingaround]

I've said what I mean.

Coward punching a bloke at the pub and almost killing him is worse than a homophobic slur.

Should the slur be punished? Yes.
Should the grievous bodily harmed be punished more? Yes.

You'd have to have a very simple view on things to think that its one or the other.

I think when your default response to a homophobic slur is to bring up another infraction you're purposefully making a diminishing comparison, but yeah I agree they're both worthy of punishment.

 

[janty]

Why would you call somebody a name when you can knock them out and get the same suspension?

 

[wian]

I don't think that's being derogatory toward Jesus, though. I know that offence is very much in the eyes of the recipient, and fair enough, but I didn't see enough in it that most Christians would take offence to.

All im saying is the AFL needs to be consistent. If they are going to crack down on certain things that only suits their agenda and narrative, and not other offensive things, they are hypocrites. And as i said the media makes a point of deliberately allowing the mocking of Jesus.. If the sign was one mocking Mohummad, would that be allowed? Or just Jesus??

And the blasphemous sign is very offensive towards probably hundreds of thousands of people in this country, and all over the world actually..
...

 

[yeahmate]

This should be Rankins defense

 

[DangerSloane]

I think when your default response to a homophobic slur is to bring up another infraction you're purposefully making a diminishing comparison, but yeah I agree they're both worthy of punishment.

Not the point I was making, although it should be a diminishing comparison. One is clearly worse than the other.

So instead of calling someone a name, players should be encouraged to just punch them out? They'll get less suspension and less scrutiny in the court of public opinion.

Neither would be preferable I know, but see how ridiculous that sounds?

 

[iameviljez]

Are you sure about that?

What would the penalty be if someone called a player a dirty Muslim?

It would be massive. But we absolutely live in a society where anti-Muslim prejudice is a very pervasive and present issue.

 

[wian]

Is there anything more boring than a Christian imagining they are the persecuted? I don’t think so.

You are not intellectually consistent. You arc up when its a minority group being persecuted , but turn a blind eye to the obvious.. Blind Freddy can see this...

 

[SSSSSS]

Are you sure about that?

What would the penalty be if someone called a player a dirty Muslim?

I'm sure it will be as severe as the response to the homophobic slur.

Again, those who follow Islam have faced challenges/persecution historically and currently not seen by the majority Christian population in Australia.

We've only just passed the 50th anniversary of the abolishment of the White Australia Policy, of which would have excluded the majority of our Islamic population entry into Australia.

You're drawing a false equivalency here which is completely laughable. Sectarianism isn't the 'gotcha' that you think it is.

 

[_Mike_]

Are you sure about that?

What would the penalty be if someone called a player a dirty Muslim?

The footy field has been determined a workplace, regulated and legislated (State and Commonwealth instruments). All workers are protected from homophopbic/racial/sexual etc slurs in the workplace by the Commonwealth Anti-Discrimination laws.

It wouldnt matter if the player was binary, non binary, trans, queer, muslim, christian, jew, african, indigenous, etc. The matter is that the alleged action is discriminatory, in the workplace, and unlawful, and I would expect that player to be sanctioned fairly and consistently to the rules.