Port Adelaide midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper apologises for photograph on social media

PORT Adelaide midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper has apologised for a photograph he posted on Instagram while on holiday with his girlfriend. The AFL says it is “disappointed” and its integrity unit is investigating.

An image from Sam Powell-Pepper’s Instagram account of his girlfriend resting on his legs. The Advertiser has pixelated part of the image to protect her identity. The picture does not depict a sexual act.

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PORT Adelaide midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper has apologised for a photograph he posted on social media.

The picture — of a young woman Powell-Pepper identifies as his girlfriend resting on his legs as he reclines in his underwear — was published on the Power player’s Instagram account.

Sam Powell-Pepper responds to his earlier social media post.

Powell-Pepper, who is overseas on holiday, has issued an apology saying: “I just want to apologise for an image I posted earlier today of me and my girlfriend.

“I posted the image by accident and immediately removed it once I realised.

“It’s a private image that was not intended to be shared publicly.

“Apologies if I have offended anybody.”

Powell-Pepper, 20, earlier this year was banned for three AFL games by the league after the AFL integrity unit found him guilty of “inappropriate contact” to a woman at an Adelaide nightclub during a boozy night on Hindley Street.

In a statement, the AFL said it had spoken with the club and that its integrity unit is investigating the photo.

“The AFL is disappointed to see an image like this shared on social media. We request that the person who is identifiable be protected and respected by the media,” the league said.

“The AFL integrity unit and the general manager of social policy (Tanya Hosch) is assessing the photo and its distribution. “The AFL has spoken with the club.

“No further comment shall be made at this stage.”

The AFL last year banned Richmond defender Nathan Broad for three games for texting a photograph of a topless woman wearing his premiership medal. He avoided criminal charges, however.

Port Adelaide Football Club has accepted Powell-Pepper’s claim he posted the photograph by accident. In a statement, the club says: “The club has spoken to all parties and is comfortable the posting of this image by Sam of he and his girlfriend on this public forum was unintentional.

“Sam has apologised and the club has fully accepted his apology.

“The club asks media to respect the privacy of Sam and his girlfriend regarding this matter.”

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