My understanding is RSL and Petke had an understanding/agreement that he would take his suspension and all the steps they put before him and then he would rejoin the team.

Then on the Saturday before he was going to rejoin the team, several big money sponsors told Delloy Hansen that they would stop their sponsorships if Petke returned.

So DLH and RSL told Petke to resign and take a buyout. Petke said no. And here we are.

Personally, I think Petke wasn't trying to be homophobic. He was trying to be offensive as he could to an official with whom he vehemently disagreed. I was ok with the firing. I would have been ok with him returning to the club. I think the fact that there were essentially three separate incidents surrounding this event, that it shows a complete lack of control. I can "forgive" the on-field accosting of the official as being in the heat of the moment. The waiting for him in the hall and then later writing obscene notes and placing them under the ref's locker room is a bit strange, as most normal people should have returned to a normal emotional stage and still not have been so worked up.

It will be interesting to see what happens.