The History.

For a number of years, /r/sports has given Australian Rules Football posts a ‘rugby’ flair as seen in these posts:

https://np.reddit.com/r/sports/comments/2hvmct/highlights_2014_afl_grand_final_hawthorn_v_sydney/

https://np.reddit.com/r/sports/comments/2h3xfj/in_preparation_of_this_years_afl_grand_final_here/

https://np.reddit.com/r/sports/comments/2a0hrv/banner_in_the_crowd_at_an_afl_game_for_western/

https://np.reddit.com/r/sports/comments/2e8h4i/1_in_every_28_australians_is_a_member_of_an_afl/

https://np.reddit.com/r/sports/comments/2bk4ut/massive_afl_hits_this_sport_is_brutal_dont_let/

https://np.reddit.com/r/sports/comments/37y0pa/one_of_the_most_amazing_afl_marks_i_have_seen/

https://np.reddit.com/r/sports/comments/231spu/what_its_like_to_get_tackled_by_the_tallest/

This one had the tag removed after users pointed it out the mods, even though the title said it was Australian football:https://np.reddit.com/r/sports/comments/22cezz/australian_footballs_equivalent_of_getting/ It has led to some users pre-empting this discussion by saying it is not rugby in the comment sections before it’s mentioned:

https://np.reddit.com/r/sports/comments/4gcnf4/american_mason_cox_scores_a_goal_with_his_first/

Even in touching moments there was still some trolling (that wasn’t banned)

https://np.reddit.com/r/sports/comments/3bzn0f/a_professional_australian_football_league_coach/

In the past month, users, who were fed up with the /r/sportshijinks decided to play the part of ignorant users and circlejerk in the comments section of new AFL related posts. This was met by a nuka-ban

https://np.reddit.com/r/sports/comments/51x6n1/afl_qualifying_final_final_2_minutes_of_the_best/

Some of the removed comments here:http://imgur.com/a/1d4SU

Some users even got banned for commenting in /r/AFL without actually commenting on /r/sports

https://np.reddit.com/r/AFL/comments/51x4ao/post_match_discussion_hawthorn_vs_geelong/d7fjwm6

https://np.reddit.com/r/AFL/comments/52isv4/announcement_regarding_rsports/d7ko3yd

3 days later the /r/AFL mods received a modmail from the head mod of /r/sports detailed here:

https://np.reddit.com/r/AFL/comments/52isv4/announcement_regarding_rsports/

In which the /r/sports mod alludes to going to the admins as/r/AFL had brigaded their sub by use of a link that was not a np. Link. The /r/sports mod links to a /r/AFL Free Talk thread posted on the same day as the modmails as an example of further harassment and trolling

https://np.reddit.com/r/AFL/comments/52goia/free_talk_tuesday/d7k3u6p

After back and forth conversation the /r/AFL mods post an announcement detailing the problem and instituting a new rule that must mean that users use np. Links. /r/AFL users have begun quoting sections from the /r/Sports mod messages, turning them into memes such as “Progressively-Escalating Continuum” and “Thin skinned pansy cunt.”

/r/sports takes offense to this and removes AFL from its pro-sports list but will further action be taken? Stay tuned.