Hearld Sun |
A VOLUNTEER umpire banned from football for 18 months for fighting back when he was bashed by a senior coach has called on the AFL to overrule his penalty.
Stawell stand-in goal umpire Robert Morris was attacked by Nhill coach Darren Weavell in a halftime melee during the Wimmera League clash between the two on May 11, photos reveal.
Witnesses have said Mr Morris was punched in the face over a disputed goal decision.
Mr Weavell was found guilty of "conduct unbecoming" , banned from the game until 2021 - a record penalty for the league - stripped of his accreditation and investigated by Victoria Police over the on-field incident.
But an AFL Victoria Country appeals tribunal slashed the penalty to just 18 months - the same as Mr Morris's punishment - despite the league being fiercely protective of umpires at the elite level.
Mr Morris, who could not even report the coach for striking because he was a volunteer umpire on the day, said the reduced penalty sent the wrong message.
"I have such an ill feeling about it that I've been staying away from the footy now," he said.
"I've been a volunteer all my life and a junior coach, and you just know that you don't go near umpires."
Mr Morris said AFL umpires boss Jeff Gieschen had "reached out" to him in the wake of his penalty and hoped the league would intervene to overturn his ban.
"I would love to be cleared so I can get back into it," Mr Morris said.
"I just don't feel comfortable going near the football at the moment because this is still a talking point."
A series of similar serious attacks on Victorian amateur umpires has raised concerns for the safety of match officials and the penalties handed to players who abuse them. Other recent cases included:
AN under-14s player charged with striking, spitting on, and using abusive and threatening language towards an umpire received a six-year suspension from the Murray League in May, but had his penalty reduced to two years after appealing to AFL Victoria Country.
Goal umpire Robert Morris was punched in the face over a disputed goal decision.
THIS week an under-16s player from Glenroy was found guilty of striking an umpire and suspended until the end of season 2015.
DANDENONG Ranges Junior Football League umpires recently became so fed up with abuse from coaches the league ordered they officiate at matches themselves and attend training to learn what umpires go through.
Essendon District Football League umpire Paul Hamilton said violence towards officials was becoming increasingly common.
"If we say anything we're just told 'toughen up, princess', but some of this is at young kids who are umpiring and they wonder why they don't stick around," he said.
Stawell stand-in goal umpire Robert Morris. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
Murray general manager Dale Norman was disappointed the penalty imposed by his league was reduced for such a serious offence.
"I'm amazed a penalty of six years for hitting an umpire would not be supported when it's the most serious crime in football," he said.
Mr Weavell declined to comment on his appeal.
By Peter Rolfe
Article first appeared www.heraldsun.com.au July 05, 2013