OUT OF BOUNDS
FOOTY BLOWS WHISTLE ON UMPIRE ABUSE
FOOTBALL officials are so fed up with abuse the game’s governing body in Tasmania plans to ramp up sanctions against abusive players and spectators.
Tasmanian Football Council president Kyron Johnson said he would look to harden laws that governed the game so aggressive spectators could be banned or face a raft of other sanctions.
“There’s a lack of respect in society today — people being abused or assaulted going about their own business and people need to stand up and say no,” Mr Johnson said.
“It doesn’t do the brand any good, it doesn’t do the game any good and it doesn’t do the clubs any good. We have enough problems getting umpires as it is and if there’s no umpires there are no games. People need to realise that.”
Football’s top officials banded together following incidents at the weekend when an under-14 boy was allegedly hit by an opposition player’s parent after the final siren and an under-17 girls player was knocked out by a heavy tackle.
A senior State League umpire was also allegedly attacked while out with his family in Salamanca on Saturday night. Umpire of 16 years Mark Tuckett and his wife Jamie were having a night out when it is alleged he was hit by someone associated with a football club. Mrs Tuckett took to social media to condemn the behaviour.
“I am aware it is the culture to bag the umpires, but everyone’s forgetting these people are needed for the game to go ahead and these people are human and are emotionally affected by the abuse they receive game after game, year after year,” Mrs Tuckett wrote on Facebook.
Geoff Flack, president of the Tasmanian Football Umpires Association, said umpires would walk away from the game because of constant abuse.
“Measures will be put in place to stop this abuse and if we have to name and shame people, we will,” Mr Flack said.
“We need to deal with this in the long term and get the message out that it’s not okay.
“I hope the umpires hang around long enough for this to happen, because there’s certainly the potential for them to walk away. Ultimately, it will be the players who will miss out, and the spectators will have to look for something else to do on a Saturday afternoon when there’s no football.”
AFL Tasmania chief executive Rob Auld said it was disappointing umpire abuse continued to be an issue.
“We felt like we were making good progress working with our associations, leagues and clubs and we remain com- mitted to stamping this out of the game,” he said.
“Ending umpire abuse is one of the few matters in football where there is universal support.”
Tasmania Police said the alleged attack on Mr Tuckett was still under investigation.
In another football incident, the Kingborough Tigers junior club has threatened to boycott its upcoming match against New Norfolk if the Southern Tasmanian Junior Football League does not come up with a satisfactory outcome to the investigation into an alleged incident at an under-14s match over the weekend.
The New Norfolk and Lindisfarne under-14s played at New Norfolk and it is alleged a Lindisfarne player was struck on the field by the parent of a New Norfolk player after the game ended.
STJFL executive officer Tony Gibson had said there would be an investigation.
“We are looking to see what the New Norfolk club does and what the STJFL does,” said Tigers president Wayne Morgan.
“Our player safety is paramount.”
New Norfolk Junior Football Club president Chris Lovell has said reports by his club were being sent to the STJFL, which he said would “adjudicate accordingly”.