Adelaide has been fined $50,000 for not wearing masks properly on a commercial flight back from their Round 11 clash against Richmond in Sydney last week.
The AFL confirmed on Saturday afternoon that several players and officials didn’t wear facemasks sufficiently while on the flight.
The full fine will sit in the club’s soft cap.
“First and foremost, we all have a very clear responsibility to ensure we do everything we can to best protect the health and well-being of our family, friends and everyone in the community,” AFL General Counsel Andrew Dillon said in a statement.
“The rule here is clear and has been in place for some time and there is simply no excuse for not abiding by it.
“We will not compromise the health and well-being of the community, and remind everyone in the industry – players, coaches, officials and staff - that they have a responsibility to adhere to the rules for the safety of everyone.”
Adelaide CEO Tim Silvers said the club took full responsibilty for the breach.
“We are well aware of our responsibilities and the need to adhere to guidance and protocols put in place by the AFL and health authorities," he said in a club statement.
“We failed in this area and we would like to apologise to the other passengers on the plane.
“Our club accepts the AFL’s penalty and from top to bottom owns this error in judgement.
“We were complacent and this matter must serve as a reminder to be vigilant in playing our part to try and limit the spread of COVID-19.
“It is a privilege to be playing games during these challenging times and we acknowledge the government requirement for people to wear facemasks in airports and on all domestic commercial flights.”