Izak Rankine apologised for using a homophobic slur and accepted responsibility for his actions. The AFL suspended him for four matches, reduced from an initial five following a club medical submission described by the AFL CEO as "compelling"; the medical details were not disclosed. Rankine returned to Adelaide after a club-arranged trip to Italy and said the suspension provided space to reflect and educate himself. He pledged to apologise personally to teammates and AFLW players, to do everything to regain public trust, and to have a positive impact on society. He has already served one match of the ban.
"I want to start by saying how deeply sorry I am for what I said. There was no excuse, it was wrong and I take full responsibility. "I'm disappointed in myself and I know I have let a lot of people down. "I want to apologise to anyone who I have hurt and offended. I understand that word was offensive, harmful, it's hurtful and has no place in our game or our society."
He added that the ban had given him "space to reflect and educate" himself to "understand the weight of my mistake". "And I am fully committed to bettering myself. In the next few days I will be standing in front of my teammates and the AFLW and apologising to them personally - and they deserve this at the very least." He said he will be doing "everything" possible to "gain everyone's trust back and have a positive impact on society" and his supporters.
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