Adelaide ask the AFL to investigate COVID-19 breach by their players and staff

Kieran Francis

Adelaide ask the AFL to investigate COVID-19 breach by their players and staff image

The AFL will investigate whether Adelaide has committed a COVID-19 breach, after being asked by the club itself to look into claims of rule ignorance.

Despite laws saying that any person flying in Australia must wear a face mask, there have been claims Crows players and staff flouted these rules on a flight last weekend.

Adelaide were heading back to their home state at the time from Sydney, following the 28-point defeat to Richmond at Giants Stadum last Sunday.

The Crows released a statement on Friday, insisting they would submit to any investigation into the club's conduct from the league's governing body.

"The Adelaide Football Club has asked the AFL to investigate claims that several players and staff were not appropriately wearing masks on a return flight from Sydney last Sunday," a statement on the Crows website said.

"The club also acknowledges the government requirement for people to wear masks in airports and on all domestic commercial flights to minimise the risk of transmission of COVID-19.

"Our coaches, players and staff understand it is a privilege to be playing football during these times, as well as the need to adhere to protocols and guidance from health authorities.

"The club is fully cooperating with the League and awaits the findings of the investigation."

Adelaide are set to meet Collingwood at Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon, with fans who attend the Round 12 clash asked to ‘duck’ if the Sherrin is booted into their section of the Adelaide Oval crowd .

That’s the advice of South Australia’s Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier following the contentious call to grant the Magpies an exemption to enter the state amid Melbourne’s latest COVID-19 lockdown.

The SA government’s decision is seen as controversial and Professor Spurrier’s bizarre instructions to fans on Wednesday did little to reassure concerned members of the community.

"We’re looking at the seating at the moment and of course we’re looking at the ball,” Spurrier said.

"Because sometimes the ball, not that I’ve been to many football games, (but) I have noticed occasionally it does get kicked into the crowd.

"And we are working through the details at the moment of what that will mean but if you are at Adelaide Oval and the ball comes towards you my advice to you is just to duck and just do not touch that ball."

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis Photo

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.