Gold Coast Suns ruck Max Knobel suspended four weeks after admitting homophobic slur in VFL game

Gold Coast Suns ruck Max Knobel was suspended for four weeks after admitting he directed a homophobic slur at a Brisbane opponent during a VFL match last Saturday. The AFL said the Suns reported the incident and described the language as highly offensive. Knobel, who has yet to make his AFL debut, will be ineligible for selection in either the AFL or VFL until after July 5.

The league stated the length of the ban aligned with prior cases in which players self-reported, expressed remorse and apologised. "Homophobia and homophobic language have absolutely no place anywhere ... the incident demonstrates that there is still more work to be done," AFL chief operating officer Tom Harley said.

Knobel issued a statement through the club. "I have to take responsibility for my actions, which were unacceptable. I understand the severity of what I said and the impact those comments have on a wide range of people," he said.

Suns chief executive Mark Evans said the club was extremely disappointed but would support Knobel through the suspension. The AFL Players' Association said the game had not yet developed a more holistic solution through meaningful engagement with the LGBTIQA+ community, bespoke education and an appropriate disciplinary process.

Earlier this year Brisbane Lions draftee Koby Evans received a four-game ban for directing a homophobic slur at a VFL opponent.

That case followed the sacking of AFL appeals board chairman Will Houghton after he described racist, sexist or homophobic language as commonplace in the league. St Kilda's Lance Collard was initially handed a seven-week suspension this year before it was reduced to two weeks on appeal; he had previously received a six-game ban two years ago for using homophobic language.