The AFL has threatened to suspend anyone who criticises umpires or approaches them on game day.
The league yesterday dialled up the strictness on umpire abuse, fed up with what it believes to be an increasing willingness to make public comment on the whistleblowers.
In a scheduled meeting with club CEO’s, the league warned that it was willing to ban players, officials and even coaches for commenting on the umpiring.
The latest chapter was Damien Hardwick’s umpire swipe on prime-time television at half-time of Richmond’s loss to the Brisbane Lions last Friday night.
“Six to 21 free kicks mate, it’s pretty hard to win the ball when you’re either second to the it or the count isn’t going our way,” he told Channel 7.
“We’ve got a young midfield we understand that, but we need to start getting a little bit of luck I reckon.”
St Kilda coach Brett Ratten questioned the officials in the wake of his side’s Round 9 loss to Geelong, declaring, “I don’t know if it’s worth tackling” after the Saints’ 87 tackles won only three free kicks.
But it’s understood the league is also angered by approaches made to officials during the quarter breaks.
GWS football boss Jason McCartney was last month slapped with a $20,000 fine after confronted the umpires at half-time of his side’s Round 6 game against the Western Bulldogs to express his frustration.
A series of decisive, late-game non-decisions has also tested the diplomacy of senior coaches after games. The AFL has admitted umpires made mistakes in three matches this season.
The interpretation of the holding the ball and insufficient intent rules has been a constant topic of debate.
The AFL warning comes almost a year after it used a league-wide phone hook-up to put a stop to the public critiquing of umpiring.
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson last year came under fire for claiming the free-kick count in a loss to Sydney felt like he was playing against “an extra player on the ground”.
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