Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade says defender Adam Saad has the full support of the AFL club amid claims he was on the receiving end of offensive comments from a city councillor.
The Suns have lodged an official complaint with the Gold Coast City Council after Councillor Dawn Crichlow allegedly made racist and homophobic remarks during a diversity function last week.
Crichlow is accused of making a series of inappropriate comments during the function including claiming to "know about Muslims".
She is also accused of saying "If that's a man he should not be touching another man. Men don't do that," while Saad was play-acting with Suns' mascot Sunny Ray.
The Suns' letter of complaint to the council claims the veteran councillor had said "footballers shouldn't be paid. You all get paid too much and that's why you are all on drugs," during her appearance at the function.
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The council has indicated it will hold an internal investigation into the allegations.
Eade said if another player had made the comments he would have been "punished a fair bit" already.
He said Saad - a multicultural ambassador and one of three practising Muslims in the AFL - would receive all the support he needed from the Suns' players and management.
"He's a quality lad and he wouldn't be wanting to make a big fuss of it," Eade said.
"We're 100 per cent behind Adam and think he's been fantastic for our club."
