‘Homophobia has no place’: AFL takes aim at own appeals board over Lance Collard’s reduced ban

The AFL appeal board has reduced the suspension handed down to St Kilda player Lance Collard for using a homophobic slur during a VFL match. Photograph: Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos/Getty Images

The AFL appeals board’s decision to reduce the suspension of St Kilda forward Lance Collard for allegedly using a homophobic slur has opened a rift within the most senior ranks of the sport’s hierarchy.

The AFL chief executive, Andrew Dillon, issued an extraordinary statement on Friday that was critical of the decision of the appeals board, made up of kings counsels William Houghton and Georgina Coghlan, and former player Stephen Jurica.