Footy fans are blasted for booing star because he was the victim of a homophobic slur as

Adelaide fans have been blasted by some social media users after they allegedly booed Collingwood star Isaac Quaynor. 

The Magpies and the Crows squared off in a repeat of last month’s hotly contested meeting at the MCG, which saw the minor premiers edge Craig McRae’s side by three points. 

Both teams went toe-to-toe again on Thursday night in a blockbuster qualifying final clash. 

However, there were unsavoury scenes in the crowd as Quaynor was disgracefully booed by some members of the Crows fan base inside the Adelaide Oval every time he touched the footy.  

It comes as he was the player who was subjected to a homophobic comment by Crows player Izak Rankine, during both side’s most previous meeting in August. 

Rankine was later handed a four-match suspension for the slur. 

‘I cannot believe this is happening,’ Channel 7 commentator Brian Taylor said. 

‘He’s done nothing wrong.’

Quaynor amassed six disposals in the first quarter and notably had a chance to give the visitors the lead with just six minutes left on the clock. 

Taking a mark from a defensive clearance just inside the Magpies forward 50 and wound up for a shot at goal. But as soon as he took the catch, some fans again started to boo the 25-year-old. 

Quaynor produced an excellent kick, drawing the ball from right to left, but couldn’t quite get the distance, with a Crows hand batting the ball out for a behind.  

Triple M’s Kate McCarthy added: ‘Booing someone for calling out homophobia is truly something, isn’t it.’ 

One person explained on X before the match that she was hoping Adelaide seald victory tonight. But after hearing the boos, she quickly changed her answer. 

‘I might have to take this back after tonight’s appalling booing of Isaac Quaynor. No excuses,’ she wrote. 

‘Crows fans booing Isaac Quaynor for calling out homophobia is actually evil behaviour. Self-reflect,’ another wrote. 

‘Adelaide crowd booing Isaac Quaynor for being on the receiving end of a homophobic slur are just vile. Every one of them ought to be kicked out of the ground. Adelaide and AFL CEOs must fix this disgusting culture and behaviour,’ another wrote.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Adelaide Football Club in relation to the boos. 

Immediately after his suspension was handed down, Rankine had spoken of his ‘regret’ at using the word. 

He later travelled abroad to Italy to participate in a warm-weather training camp and returned on Tuesday.

Upon his arrival in Adelaide, he spoke to members of the media at the airport, where he issued an apology. 

Footy reporter Jon Ralph wrote on X that Rankine was set to be at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday night. He added that the footy player wouldn’t be around his team-mates in the dressing room before the game, and would be ‘tucked away so he isn’t a distraction.’ 

He added that Rankine had also ‘apologised to the Crows’ AFLW players’ on Thursday too and would continue to train with the team. 

On Tuesday, Rankine told reporters: ‘I want to start by saying how deeply sorry I am for what I said,’ Rankine said.

‘There was no excuse, it was wrong and I take full responsibility. I’m disappointed in myself and I know I’ve let a lot of people down.

‘I want to apologise to anybody that I’ve hurt or offended. I understand that word is offensive, it’s harmful, it’s hurtful and it has no place in our game or our society.’

Rankine is the sixth AFL player in 16 months to be handed a ban for making a homophobic slur.

The recent rise in suspensions relating to homophobia has caused some commentators to scrutinise whether the AFL is doing enough to foster an inclusive environment.

The league has a zero-tolerance stance on homophobia, with AFL CEO Andrew Dillon writing in the AFL’s 2025 LGBTQIA+ Action Plan: ‘I want to be clear: there is absolutely no place for homophobia, biphobia, or transphobia – or any form of discrimination for that matter – in our game, workplace, or society.’

After Rankine’s ban was confirmed, former West Coast player Mitch Brown also made history by becoming the first-ever player to come out as bisexual.

However, Brown issued a plea to the AFL to do more to foster an inclusive environment for all people. 

‘This is also a call to action,’ Brown said in a message published on his Instagram, in which he also thanked his followers for their support. ‘It’s time for the AFL and the clubs to commit to genuine change, embedding inclusion not just in words, but in culture, policies and everyday actions.

‘If we can make our game a better place where everyone belongs, the ripple effect on Australian society will be profound.

‘I look forward to joining the movement that started long before me to create a safer, more inclusive sport and society for everyone.’

It also comes as a behavioural scientist at Monash University, Dr Erik Denison, has claimed that homophobia exists ‘at every corner of the AFL’. 

He explained to ABC Sport that the footy league has deeply embedded issues surrounding homophobia. 

‘I don’t think it’s time for the AFL community to be congratulating itself, sort of saying “job done, here look at us, we finally have an openly gay bisexual player”,’ he told ABC Sport.

‘This is time for the AFL community to really look in the mirror, listen to what Mitch Brown is saying, and do something about the problems that he’s describing. 

‘This is an opportunity for the AFL to drive long-overdue change to culture and behaviour at all levels of the game.’ 

More to follow…