Hearing for alleged abuse of umpire Nick Foot underway; Collard to learn punishment for homophobic slur

“I paid the 50-metre penalty because of what was said,” Foot said.

Under questioning about crowd noise and whether he was wearing an earpiece, Foot said: “My earpiece is in my right ear. Zak Butters was to my left.”

Renee Enbom KC, for the AFL, has gone on to quiz the umpire.

“It was loud enough for me to hear it crystal clear,” Foot said.

The veteran umpire is about to be quizzed.

“I awarded a ruck free kick for a hold of the jumper,” Foot said.

“I ran in to set the mark.

“I entered into a short discussion with player Sweet (as to why a decision was made)

He said Butters was “one-metre away” at the time of the incident.

Michael Borsky KC is now putting St Kilda’s submission forward.

The St Kilda representative, who is also a club board member, said a letter from the AFLPA had been sent to the tribunal. But the tribunal has indicated that the player body’s submission was yet to be received.

Borsky says the AFL’s push for a 10-week ban was “excessive”, based on similar previous cases.

“Players found to have verbally abused umpires ... are fined and not suspended,” Borsky said.

“Turning to the circumstances of this case … subject to an appeal that might be made ... Mr Collard has been found guilty of a second offence.”

The hearing is underway.

Andrew Woods KC is putting the league’s submission forward.

“The AFL’s submits that a 10-week suspension would be appropriate,” Woods said.

“It would … discourage similar behaviour from others.”

The AFL is also pushing of the penalty to be heard “on top of” Collard’s two-match ban for striking.

There was a chance that the tribunal might get straight to the verdict this afternoon. But, alas no, submissions from both parties will be heard.

Woods has explained how a “10-week ban” is different to a standard “10-match” suspension – mainly because there are significant fixture discrepancies between the AFL and VFL.

Umpire Nick Foot has been in the headlines previously.

In February last year, the AFL endorsed Foot’s employment with betting giant Sportsbet, the league’s betting partner.

Foot’s role, as a horse racing analyst on Get On – a Sportsbet-affiliated racing show that appears on the Racing.com and Sportsbet platforms – was endorsed by the AFL, which said if it had “anything to do with football in any capacity, it wouldn’t have been approved”.

Foot sought approval for the Sportsbet role. The league said Foot had previously also worked with RSN – a racing and sport radio network.

AFL umpire Nick Foot alleges that he heard Port Adelaide star Zak Butters say, “How much are they paying you?”, before he paid a 50-metre penalty and reported him for abusive language.

Butters remains adamant he did not say anything offensive to Foot beyond questioning why a free kick was paid to the Saints’ Mitch Owens for a ruck infringement.

The dispute led to the incident being referred directly to the tribunal as the microphones worn by the umpire did not pick up the exchange. Competition sources who wanted to remain anonymous said the umpiring fraternity believes the league should back the umpire in pursuing the charge.

The umpire paid a 50-metre penalty against Port Adelaide, which led to a St Kilda goal. Umpire Foot can be heard telling Butters he had been reported for abusive language as they make their way back to the centre after Owens kicked the goal.

Click here to read article