Carlton podcaster loses club membership

Carlton Football Club revoked the membership of fan podcaster Rocco Stagnitti after comments he made about a female-focused supporter group triggered backlash this week. The decision was reported on May 22, 2026, after a clip circulated from the unofficial Carlton fan podcast “The Jumper Punch.” In the clip, Stagnitti said he would “punch the f--- out of the Besties,” referring to the Carlton Besties, a supporter group described in reports as a safe space for women and other fans at games. Carlton said in a statement that football should be welcoming and inclusive. ### Who is the podcaster Carlton acted against? Rocco Stagnitti was identified in multiple reports as the host or co-host of “The Jumper Punch,” an unofficial Carlton supporter podcast with no formal link to the club. The remarks surfaced during a discussion about which Carlton content creators would win in a fight, according to reports from Zero Hanger and 7NEWS. (theage.com.au) The podcast is run by supporters rather than the club itself, and Carlton’s action was directed at Stagnitti’s status as a member, not at an official club media role. The Age reported that his membership was revoked until the end of the 2026 season. ### What did he say about the Carlton Besties? The comments at issue were directed at the Carlton Besties, a female-focused supporter group with a visible social media presence around the club. (zerohanger.com) Reports said Stagnitti made the remark during a segment about fan creators and fighting, saying he would “punch the f--- out of the Besties.” (theage.com.au) Yahoo and Zero Hanger reported that the clip spread online and prompted criticism from supporters who said the language was violent and degrading. Those reports also said the Besties were widely seen by fans as a welcoming space for women at Carlton matches and online. ### How did Carlton explain the decision? Carlton said in a statement quoted by The Age that “football should be a place for everyone to enjoy a sense of community and belonging.” The club condemned the remarks and framed its response as part of maintaining standards of conduct across its supporter base. (7news.com.au) (au.sports.yahoo.com) 7NEWS reported the club described the comments as serious enough to warrant suspending the member involved. Fox Sports similarly reported that Carlton had moved to suspend the podcaster’s membership until at least the end of the season after what it described as degrading and threatening remarks. ### Did Stagnitti respond? (theage.com.au) Yahoo reported that Stagnitti apologized after the backlash, saying, “For that, I am sorry, and I apologise to everyone that was affected by my comments.” That apology was cited in coverage of the club’s investigation earlier in the week. The available reports do not indicate that the apology changed Carlton’s disciplinary response. (7news.com.au) By May 22, outlets including The Age, Fox Sports and MSN were reporting that the membership penalty would remain in place through the end of the 2026 season. ### Why did this become a bigger issue than a podcast dispute? (au.sports.yahoo.com) The Carlton Besties were described in multiple reports as a female-focused fan group, which made the comments a broader issue for the club than a dispute between online creators. Carlton’s statement emphasized community and belonging, and reports framed the decision as a response to conduct the club considered inconsistent with that message. (theage.com.au) The case also drew attention because the podcast was part of the wider supporter media ecosystem around AFL clubs, where unofficial fan channels can attract large audiences without formal club oversight. In this case, Carlton’s sanction applied to membership privileges rather than any official media credential. That is an inference based on the club’s reported action and the podcast’s unofficial status. (theage.com.au) ### What happens next for the people involved? The reported penalty runs until the end of the 2026 AFL season, leaving Stagnitti without Carlton membership rights for the remainder of the year. The next concrete milestone will be whether the club revisits that status after the season ends or whether Stagnitti seeks renewed membership then. (theage.com.au)