2 weeks ago
7
Izak Rankine is set to travel back to Australia on Tuesday night and will speak to members of the media for the first time since he was handed a four-match ban for making a homophobic comment to a Collingwood player.
The 25-year-old Adelaide forward has travelled to Italy to complete a mini warm-weather training camp.
But according to The Herald Sun, he is now set to travel back, via Dubai, on Tuesday evening.
Rankine still has a possibility of playing again this season if the Crows lose their qualifying final against Collingwood on Thursday but still advance to the AFL Grand Final from there.
During an investigation into the homophobic slur he used against an unnamed Magpies player, the AFL had sought to hand a five-match ban to Rankine that would have ended his season entirely.
However, the Crows made several ‘compelling medical submissions’ to the AFL, which acted as mitigating factors in the league’s ultimate sanctioning. Rankine’s ban was subsequently reduced from five matches to four.
Izak Rankine is set to travel back to Australia on Tuesday night and will speak to members of the media for the first time since he was handed a four-match ban
After learning his fate, the footy player expressed his remorse over the use of the homophobic slur.
‘I regret using the word and I am very sorry for doing so, and that type of language has no place in football or the community,’ Rankine said.
‘It was a mistake and I have apologised to the Collingwood player, and what happened does not reflect my values or those of the club.
‘I'm committed to educating myself and being better.’
However, he is yet to speak publicly and to members of the media on the matter.
It is understood that he has spoke to Crows AFLW captain Ebony Marinoff and men’s coach Chelsea Randall regarding the matter.
His decision to head overseas to participate in a training camp was set up by the club’s fitness manager Darren Burgess’, according to The Herald Sun. The move was said to be a means of taking the footy star out of the spotlight.
Though it is now unclear whether Rankine will participate in training with the rest of his team-mates this week as he is set to return before the Crows clash against the Pies on Thursday.
He became the sixth player to be sanctioned by the AFL in the past 16 months for a homophobic slur.
Earlier this year West Coast player Jack Graham and Sydney Swans player Riak Andrew were both handed bans for homophobic remarks.
More to follow...
