Life ban for ump punch

A FOOTBALLER who punched an umpire in the face in Melbourne has been banned for life.

The Parkmore Springvale Districts under-19 player was reported for striking a field umpire at Springvale Reserve on Saturday.

The player, 19, struck the 19year-old umpire in the second quarter of the match against East Brighton after the umpire awarded a free kick and 50m penalty.

The player faced an independent tribunal hearing last night charged with intentionally making contact with or striking an umpire.

A Southern Football Netball League statement said he pleaded guilty and has accepted a lifetime ban.

The game was abandoned following the incident.

Under AFL Victoria rules, players are deregistered if they are suspended for more than 16 matches.

Southern Football Netball League head of umpiring Peter Marshall said the umpire was knocked to the ground, suffered a cut lip and was shaken, “but is doing OK”.

“We’re getting around him, he’s a good kid,” Marshall said.

“It’s a very disappointing thing to have to deal with. In my three years with the Southern league, we’ve never had an umpire-related incident.”

The umpire was well enough to umpire a Division 4 senior match later in the day.

Springvale Districts president Sean Francis released a statement saying “this type of incident is most certainly not what Springvale Districts Football Club stands for’’.

“We pride ourselves on our values of respect and appropriate behaviour and take a very strong position on these,’’ it said.

“This behaviour pletely unacceptable.

“There is no place in our sport for this type of incident whatsoever. We all understand the importance of setting the right example, particularly in underage competitions.

“Our immediate concern is for the welfare of the umpire and the club will continue to support him in whatever way we can.’’ is com-