Five players in the Australian Football League (AFL) who were suspended for late-night drinking and inviting women to a hotel have publicly apologised to their club and fans.
The Sydney Swans’ Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice have been stood down from Australian Rules football’s top league for the rest of the season, the club announced earlier on Wednesday.
The suspension comes after Melbourne detectives began an investigation into an alleged sexual assault, said to have to taken place in the early hours of Monday at the Pullman Hotel where the players were staying after Sunday’s match.
None of the players have been arrested or charged in the investigation.
“We are deeply sorry to everyone involved,” the players said in a statement posted to the Sydney Swans website.
“We know we have let down our partners and families, members, supporters, teammates, the AFLW team, corporate partners and everyone at the Club and in the wider community.
“We accept the Club sanction and apologise for the impact this has had on those involved.”
Sydney Swans chairman Andrew Pridham also apologised to fans, players and the wider community earlier on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters, he explained that the sanctions were handed down because the players had breached the club’s standards by drinking alcohol later than accepted and bringing women to the hotel.
In a statement announcing the suspensions, the club said: “We respect there is an ongoing investigation by Victoria Police and the actions we have taken today are independent of this.
“The AFL is supportive of the Club’s sanctions.”
Swans chief executive Matthew Pavlich told a media conference: “We’re deeply embarrassed and ashamed that the poor choices of five of our players, and the impact that’s had on the women involved and also the club.
“We are deeply concerned about their welfare and the wellbeing of those women.”
He declined to say whether any of the players had been drug tested, saying that any testing would form part of the police inquiry.
