Wil Powell: Footy star admits using a shocking homophobic slur during a match – and gets hammered by the AFL
- Wil Powell admitted to throwing a slur in the Brisbane Lions game
- Gold Coast star has been hit with a massive suspension
- Comes after Jeremy Finlayson’s tape for the same crime
Gold Coast defender Wil Powell says he made a “terrible mistake” after being handed a five-match ban for using a homophobic slur against a Brisbane Lions player during last Sunday’s match at the Gabba.
The AFL Integrity Unit investigated the incident with Powell’s full cooperation and admission of his mistake, and the league came under heavy fire following a three-match ban for the Power’s Jeremy Finlayson.
Powell told Suns officials about his comment during the match and apologized to the Brisbane Lions player during the match, at the end of the match and again in the hours after the match.
“As soon as the word came out of my mouth, I knew I had made a terrible mistake,” Powell said.
Powell was playing against the Lions on Sunday (pictured) when he hit a rival player with the slur – and told Suns officials about it shortly after full-time
“I have apologized to the Brisbane player and would like to publicly apologize for my comment. I will take full responsibility for what I said.
“I know there is no place for comments like this and I will accept the consequences of my actions. I should have known better and I must prove this with my actions in the future.”
Gold Coast CEO Mark Evans said the club condemned Powell’s comments but would support him in his bid to redeem himself.
“Wil’s comment was completely unacceptable and in no way reflects what we stand for as a football club,” said Evans.
“We have spoken to Will to ensure he understands the seriousness of his comment and the effect such comments can have on others. He has committed to working hard to educate and improve himself and he will have the support of the club to make those improvements.”
Powell said he apologized to the Lions player during the game and twice more after the game was over, labeling his outburst a “terrible mistake.”
The 24-year-old’s five-week ban comes just weeks after Power star Jeremy Finlayson (pictured) was banned for three weeks for homophobic comments
The AFL called Powell’s comments “highly offensive” and his lsur “demeans and denigrates any person regardless of his or her sexuality” after finding him guilty of breaching its code of conduct.
“It is extremely disappointing to have to deal with a similar incident within just a few weeks,” AFL General Counsel Stephen Meade said.
“The AFL acknowledges Powell’s contrition and cooperation, and while it has taken into account the circumstances in which the comment was made, there are no excuses for this behavior in our game.
“We predicted both publicly and privately that after what happened at the Gather Round, there would be further consequences if a similar incident occurred.
“There couldn’t be a clearer message: homophobia has no place in our game, nor in society. We want all people in the community to feel welcome in our game. Comments like Powell’s only take this away. As a code, as a community, we all need to get better.”
The AFL said it was ‘appropriate to increase the sanction’ after league CEO Andrew Dillon announced such action in the wake of Finlayson’s comment against Essendon.