Gold Coast Ruckman Max Knobel Suspended for Four Games Over Homophobic Slur
Gold Coast Suns ruckman Max Knobel has been suspended for four AFL and VFL matches after admitting to using a homophobic slur against a Brisbane opponent during a round 11 VFL game. The AFL found him guilty of conduct unbecoming, with the ban consistent with precedents for players who self-report and show remorse. The incident is the latest in a series of similar cases this year, prompting the AFL Players' Association to call for a more comprehensive response from the league.
Max Knobel, a 21-year-old Gold Coast Suns ruckman yet to make his AFL debut, has been handed a four-match ban after admitting to directing a homophobic slur at a Brisbane opponent during a VFL match on Saturday. The AFL's investigation found him guilty of conduct unbecoming, and the suspension will cover AFL rounds 14 to 17 as well as any VFL matches in that period. Knobel issued a public apology, acknowledging the severity of his words and their impact on the LGBTIQA+ community, while the Suns expressed disappointment but pledged to support him through further inclusion education. AFL Chief Operating Officer Tom Harley stated that homophobia has no place in the game, while also acknowledging Knobel's self-reporting and remorse. The incident is part of a broader pattern in 2025 and recent seasons, with players from Brisbane, St Kilda, Adelaide, Sydney, West Coast, and Port Adelaide all receiving bans for similar conduct. The AFL Players' Association responded by saying the game has not yet developed a sufficiently holistic solution, calling for meaningful engagement with the LGBTIQA+ community and bespoke education alongside appropriate discipline. The league's ongoing challenges with homophobic language were further highlighted earlier this year when its appeals board chairman was sacked after describing such language as 'commonplace' in the AFL.
What's missing
It is not reported what the identity or response of the Brisbane player targeted by the slur has been.
What different sources said
- ABC AustraliaCenter
Gold Coast ruck the latest AFL-listed player banned for homophobic slur
- afl.com.auCenter
Suns ruck banned for four matches for homophobic slur
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