By Andrew Wu
Jordan De Goey is taking time out from football and will not play in Collingwood’s crucial game against Greater Western Sydney on Sunday.
As long-time sponsor Emirates revealed they had been in dialogue with the Magpies over their handling of De Goey’s mid-season holiday in Bali, the club confirmed the star midfielder had been granted personal leave.
Jordan De Goey is taking time out of football.Credit: Getty Images
It comes a day after De Goey accepted full responsibility and apologised for his “disrespectful” conduct, which resulted in him being handed a suspended $25,000 fine by the Magpies.
De Goey has also had a lucrative contract extension pulled from the table after he attempted to expose the breast of a woman he was partying with on the holiday island, despite the club acknowledging the act had been consensual.
De Goey was not at training at Olympic Park on Wednesday, and it is unclear when he will return. The ninth-placed Magpies are in a crucial phase of the season, with games to come against Gold Coast and North Melbourne after this week as they aim to snare a finals berth that seemed unlikely at the start of the year.
“The Collingwood Football Club advises player Jordan De Goey has been granted personal leave by the club and will not take part in the Round 15 match against the GWS Giants to be played on Sunday, June 26,” the Magpies’ statement read.
“Jordan has been absent from training this week and the club will continue to support him on his return to the football program.”
The club had hoped De Goey would this week publicly address his behaviour in Bali, but that will now have to wait.
The ripple effect of De Goey’s big night out has reverberated beyond the football department through to one of the club’s premier commercial partners.
While many of the club’s sponsors have remained silent over De Goey’s latest off-field drama, Emirates has publicly weighed into the matter.
“Emirates condemns disrespectful behaviour towards women. We are in dialogue with Collingwood Football Club on its response to the incident,” an Emirates spokesperson told The Age.
The airline is a premier commercial partner whose logo is on the Magpies’ jumper. It has been with the club since 1999.
St Kilda confirmed De Goey’s name has been discussed as a free agent the Saints would consider targeting during this year’s player exchange period. Rival clubs also believe Essendon are a contender to snare De Goey’s services. The Pies have parked contract discussions with the talented but wayward star until the end of the season.
“Our club looks at all free agents in the competition. He’s one of those, but you know, that’s more of a question for at least management and what we do as a club going forward,” Saints coach Brett Ratten said.
“He’s a name that’s been brought up, as has probably 15 others maybe 20 others that are out (of contract). We look at everyone that is there as a free agent.”
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