St Kilda goal sneak Stephen Milne has been fined $3000 by the club and ordered to undertake an education program for a homophobic slur against Collingwood defender Harry O'Brien.
Milne directed the comment towards O'Brien during the Saints' six-point loss to the Pies at the MCG on Saturday night.
The pair were seen arguing during the third quarter of the match after Milne gave a free-kick away against Darren Jolly, and umpire Dean Margetts could be heard cautioning the Saint about his language before awarding the Pies a 50m penalty.
An AFL investigation ruled the comment breached the league's policy on discrimination and vilification, prompting the Saints to fine the star, who this season played his 250th game for the club and kicked his 500th goal.
AFL General Manager of Football Operations Adrian Anderson supported St Kilda's decision to fine Milne.
"It is simply not acceptable - even in the heat of battle - for AFL players to use homophobic insults on the football field," Anderson said.
"The AFL investigated player Milne's comments last weekend at the MCG and found that they breached the Players' Code of Conduct and also the AFL's policy on vilification.
"The St Kilda Football Club is to be commended for taking this action and sending a strong message that homophobic comments are unacceptable."
The incident is the latest on-field verbal stoush between Milne and the Pies, after the 32-year-old was called a 'rapist' by then-Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse in 2010.
39 Comments
Yeah im with Nick, its just a name, have some cement and harden the F up boys.
Replyd.......What doe's NOT GUILTY mean? Did'nt you hear about Beam's and Co raping that girl in CBD after the saints magpies grand final......That all got swept under the carpet.......let it go!!!!
ReplyIt takes two to tango.....Harry o was as much to blame as milney for the verbal scrap....Harry was right in milney's ear giving him heap's and the moronic umpire done nothing....what was milney to do....let him verbally abuse him? Good on ya milney for sticking up for yourself and as for you harry o,your a protected species in the eye of the umpires...just like many other player's but,what comes around goes around. Go the sainters!
ReplyMilne should keep his mouth shut, he is no saint if he was not playing football he would be behind bars, Mick Malthouse was right
Replymaybe Milne has to make up for the fact he kicks bags of goals in the regular season games, but has been a consistent flop in finals esp. Grand Finals.....small man syndrome, so has to make up for it with a big mouth....advice for Milne: perform in the ones that count ( finals, esp G Finals ) and you don't have to make up for anything....
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