AFL Dismisses Appeals Board Chair William Houghton KC Following Controversial Remarks During Collard Hearing

The AFL has terminated the chair of its appeals board following his controversial rationale for reducing Lance Collard’s suspension.

On Thursday, the St Kilda player saw his hefty nine-match ban for making homophobic remarks downgraded to just four matches, with two of those suspended.

William Houghton KC defended this decision by claiming that “the recipient of the remark, (Darby) Hipwell, was not offended by the comment.”

Houghton further remarked: “We recognise that football is a tough sport. It is fiercely competitive, especially at the elite levels. It’s not uncommon for players to occasionally use language that is racist, sexist, or homophobic on the field.”

The comment sparked immediate outrage across the football community, prompting the league to explicitly repudiate the board’s justification.

On Saturday, the league announced Houghton’s dismissal, effective immediately.

A spokesperson informed The Age that: “Mr Houghton has served as chair since his appointment in March 2024 and has made significant contributions at the club level for many years; the AFL extends its gratitude for his service.”

In a statement released on Friday, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon expressed strong criticism towards the appeals board, emphasising that Collard’s original nine-match suspension “reflected the seriousness of using a homophobic slur on the field and was intended to establish a clear standard for our game, especially since it was a second offence.”

He added that “stronger action was not just warranted; it was essential.”

“Let’s be clear: homophobia has no place in Australian football. Not at any level. Not under any circumstances.”

“The AFL specifically disputes the reasoning of the appeals board, which claimed, ‘it is commonplace for players to occasionally use language that is racist, sexist, or homophobic on the field.’

“The AFL strongly rejects the assertion that such language is commonplace, as well as any implication that it should influence the severity of the sanction.”

In a separate statement, the AFL Players Association described the remarks as “deeply troubling.”