Loveridge takes over as AFL appeals board chair

Loveridge will be the interim appeals board chair for the rest of the AFL season and the upcoming AFLW season.

The 1983 and '86 Hawthorn premiership rover is a veteran lawyer in private practice, serving on the tribunal and appeals board since 1999.

Houghton was removed from the appeals board last month, two days after he said racist, sexist or homophobic language was "commonplace" in the AFL.

He made the comments when Collard's ban for a homophobic slur in a VFL game was reduced on appeal.

The St Kilda player was originally banned for seven weeks, with another two weeks suspended. While the appeals board agreed with the original verdict of conduct unbecoming, the penalty was cut back to two weeks, with another two weeks suspended.

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon condemned Houghton's comment and the reduction in penalty.