MRP chief Christian sorry for umpire approach
AFL match review officer Michael Christian has apologised for approaching an umpire during an amateur women’s game at the weekend.
Christian, whose daughter was playing in the match, approached umpire Adrian Fisher and had a brief conversation in which he stated dangerous sling tackles were going unpenalised.
Such interactions with umpires are forbidden, with Christian seeking to apologise to Fisher and the women’s league yesterday.
“I spoke to the AFL today, to Steve Hocking today to confirm that this had occurred,” Christian said. “Steve clearly outlined the AFL’s position to me, that this should not have happened with any person, particularly not someone in a senior role within the game.”
The issue came to light after Fisher contacted Melbourne radio station 3AW yesterday morning. “He said I’ve been missing sling tackles,” Fisher said.
“First of all he said he was independent, which gets up my goat because he wasn’t independent, his daughter was playing. We didn’t get heated or anything, we just exchanged opposite views. I don’t think it was appropriate what he did.”
PORT ADELAIDE midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper can expect a one-game ban from teammates and at least a demand from his club and the AFL to attend counselling sessions on “respect and responsibility”.
Investigations by the AFL and Port into Powell-Pepper’s behaviour at a city nightclub on Sunday morning will continue today.
But there is no doubt the Port Adelaide leadership group will punish Powell-Pepper for breaching team rules on drinking in public and a curfew. Claims involving Powell-Pepper, 20, made by a young woman were still being disputed yesterday.
But even if Powell-Pepper is cleared of these allegations, the AFL is expected to seek the West Australian to undergo more education on the league’s code of respect to women and responsibility in public.
Powell-Pepper, described as “rattled” by his teammates, is not dismissing the claims he broke the team’s 2am curfew and rule to avoid excessive drinking, particularly in public.