Essendon forward Kyle Langford weighs in on Jeremy Finlayson’s use of a homophobic slur

Essendon forward Kyle Langford has condemned Jeremy Finlayson’s use of a homophobic slur as the Port Adelaide forward awaits the outcome of an AFL investigation into the matter.

Finlayson directed a homophobic slur towards an Essendon player during the third quarter of the Power’s 69-point victory over the Bombers at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.

The 28-year-old owned up and apologised to the target of his slur post-match, and on Sunday made a formal apology, describing his choice of words as “unacceptable”.

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Langford on Monday night said he was aware of the slur made towards one of his teammates and expected the AFL to “deal with it”.

“I do have an opinion on it but I can’t say too much because it is under AFL investigation and I’m sure they will deal with it appropriately,” Langford said on radio station 3AW.

“But any kind of homophobic language is just not acceptable in today’s game or even society, so that will be dealt with.

“I’m very close with a lot of people in the LGBTIQ community and I’ve done a lot of work with the Purple Bombers,” he said, in reference to a diversity and inclusion supporter group at Essendon.

“It shouldn’t be any different to any kind of racial slur.

“It’s not acceptable and Jeremy (Finlayson) has owned up to it, so good on him, but the AFL will deal with it.”

Langford said he was at the opposite end of the ground to where Finlayson made his comment on Friday night.

On Monday, the Bombers forward was asked whether his teammate was hurt by the incident.

“Regardless whether he was hurt by it or not, it was not acceptable,” Langford said.

“I can’t talk too much about it.”

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon confirmed the league’s investigation would be completed before the next round of games, starting on Thursday.

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