Judge slams father of two for use of homophobic expression to describe AFL football Jason Akermanis has applauded a judge's comments and believes attitudes are changing. A JUDGE has reignited the debate over political-correctness in sport after rapping a Queensland father for using a "homophobic expression" to describe AFL football. Family Court Judge Robert Benjamin singled out an outspoken father-of-two for describing AFL as "fairy football" during a fierce custody battle. The father's utterances captured the ire of the experienced judge, who granted him sole custody only after describing him as having the "least worst' approach to parenting his two school-aged children through a particularly volatile break up. "The father gave evidence in relation to his views on AFL football, which he described as 'fairy football'," Justice Benjamin said. His explanation as to the use of that term was unsatisfactory. He clearly knew that it was a homophobic expression and his endeavour to minimise that expression was unsatisfactory. The judicial rebuke has sparked reaction from the AFL with former Brownlow Medallist Jason Akermanis applauding the judge's comments. Akermanis attracted international condemnation in 2010 for urging young gay players to stay in the closet but has changed his tune. He now believes attitudes are changing towards homosexuality in the AFL despite there being no openly gay players. Name-calling, which included terms such as "GayFL" and "aerial ping pong" had never worried him when he played. "Because I would have thought AFL is arguably one of the hardest endurance sports," the former Brisbane Lion said. The AFL declined to comment, but Akermanis said it had worked through many issues, including homophobia. "They would like to think the sport would be played by any way, shape or form," he said. They now abide by a very strict code of conduct and while that sort of stuff would have been rife before in terms of putting players down, it is now relatively safe. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbian and Gays in Queensland (PFLAG) is celebrating the stance taken against homophobia by a member of the judiciary. PFLAG spokeswoman Shelley Argent said governments and sporting associations needed to take a tougher stance against disgraceful gay-bashing in the AFL. "When you are at the football, it really is insulting and unnecessary and, I think, appalling when people call out 'poofter'," Ms Argent said. I have, at times, at a Lions game, spoken to a person sitting behind me who was calling out 'f ... ing poofters'. I told him 'you must be extremely proud of the way you are conducting yourself' and he quietened down because somebody stopped him. But it is a put down and it doesn't matter if it is racist or homophobic. It should not be tolerated. The AFL fined St Kilda's Stephen Milne $3000 in 2012 for calling Collingwood's Harry O'Brien a "f ... ing homo." Earlier this year, UK football club Liverpool FC issued a directive to fans to cease shouting expressions such as "man up! don't play like a girl" and "that's gay." But Queensland Council for Civil Liberties spokesman Michal Cope said policing fans in the heat of a sporting contest was an attack on freedom of speech. " (The father's) language is not the sort we would support as it does reflect a view within some sections of the community on homosexuals by suggesting they are less than manly but it is also a free-speech issue ... and he is entitled to express his views," Mr Cope said.