This time May clean as whistle

GOLD Coast captain Steven May has been spared a suspension despite touching an umpire, and is free to lead his AFL side in China against Port Adelaide this weekend.

The 26-year-old pleaded not guilty to a charge of intentional contact and instead was found guilty of carelessly touching an official in the club’s heavy loss to Melbourne on Saturday.

The decision brings into question the commonly held view that the umpires cannot be touched.

It also gives Carlton hope that Charlie and Ed Curnow — who will appear at the tribunal on tonight on the same charges — could escape bans.

Last week, Geelong forward Tom Hawkins was issued a one-week suspension for touching an umpire in the club’s round seven win over GWS Giants.

While the actions of the two Curnows are similar in nature to Hawkins’s effort and are more likely to see suspensions issued, May’s action was different.

May was replicating the contest that led to a free kick being given against him by field umpire David Harris when he touched the official.

The Suns’ leader was referred directly to the tribunal after making contact with Harris.

May said he didn’t even feel the contact with the umpire.

“I actually didn’t realise I hit him when I was walking off the field for halftime and I saw the big screen,” he said in evidence via video-link.