Brahma Lodge footballer Christopher Motley banned for life over umpire collision
AN SA Amateur Football League player has received a life ban for colliding with an umpire during a match.
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A BRAHMA Lodge footballer has received a life ban for colliding with an umpire during a match.
The SA Amateur Football League’s tribunal last month found Christopher Motley guilty of “recklessly” making contact with an umpire during a division-six away game against Fitzroy on July 2.
The tribunal deemed the force of the impact to be “low”, unintentional and to the body but considered it avoidable.
Players are deregistered from the league once they are banned for 12 or more matches.
The umpire was not injured and has continued to officiate games.
Amateur league chief executive John Kernahan said the tribunal determined Motley’s action was not deliberate but said umpires were sacrosanct.
He was unable to recall any other examples of a player receiving a straight 12-game ban from the amateur league for colliding with an umpire.
“(The ban) is indicative of our duty of care to our umpires,” Kernahan said.
“Players should expect lengthy bans for abusing an umpire let alone making contact even reckless contact.
“Our standards for on and off-field behaviour are high and we do not apologise for that.
“We’ve said it before, and no doubt we’ll have the opportunity to say it again, but whilst one of our mandates is to promote participation, it is not at all costs.
“What is at all costs is to provide a positive experience for all, and those that can’t comply should pursue other pastimes.
“The greater majority of our clubs and their members are fully supportive of our stance, because a day out with their fellow club members is a good one.”
Motley had been suspended twice before — a two-match ban for striking in 2014 while playing in the Adelaide Plains Football League and a one-match ban in 2006 in the SANFL.
Brahma Lodge officials did not want to comment.
The decision follows the league last month banning Rosewater captain Adam Rumbelow for a record 20 years for striking an umpire during a division five game.
Police last month reported Rumbelow for alleged aggravated assault and summonsed him to appear in Port Adelaide Magistrates Court at a later date.
Eastern Park’s Anton Railey received a 10-match ban last year for making reckless contact with an umpire during a division-four game.
