Dad of Aussie Rules player allegedly assaulted in on-field incident calls for end to violence in sport
A FATHER has called for violence in sport to be “rubbed out” after his son was knocked out in an alleged off-the-ball assault during an A-grade football match on the Eyre Peninsula.
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A FATHER has called for violence in sport to be “rubbed out” after his son was knocked out in a behind-the-play incident during an A-grade football match on the Eyre Peninsula.
SA Police are investigating the incident during the Roopena v Weeroona Bay match at Memorial Oval in Whyalla last Saturday.
Roopena player Ben Auld, 22, was allegedly punched by a Weeroona Bay player about 60m off the play.
Auld was unconscious for about a minute before being stretchered off the field and taken to Whyalla Hospital.
A Tigers player was found not guilty by the Whyalla Football League tribunal on Monday night, despite the umpire’s report stating an assault did occur.
Auld’s angry father, Robert Auld, told The Advertiser that violence in sport was not acceptable and needed to be thwarted.
“It’s not supposed to happen on the football field — I don’t believe it’s a part of the game,” he said.
He said footy players get knocked around during on-the-ball scuffles, but an off-the-ball hit was completely unacceptable.
“If this happened out the front of a pub, it would have been regarded as a coward punch,” he said.
“But it seems, if you have a (sports) jumper on, you’re exempt from the law.
‘I don’t think it’s OK just because it happened on a footy field. It’s supposed to be fun, you play hard and all catch up for a beer after the game.
“Most people say what happens on the sports field, stays on the sports field — but that’s just not who I am and that’s not who my son is. It just should not be happening.
“This has to be rubbed out of sport, I know the AFL would support this — it needs to be rubbed out.”
Mr Auld said he did not see the incident because he was watching the play around the ball.
“I turned to look at what had happened and I could see a player lying on the ground,” he said.
“I recognised my son by his football boots.”
Umpires co-ordinator Paul Trussell said he had been in contact with the umpire on the day and had been informed he gave evidence that an assault did occur but the person charged was found not guilty.
“I have spoken to the committee members of the Whyalla umpires and we will be seeking clarification on this incident,” he said.
“Until this clarification is made, I cannot make any further comment on the matter.”
Roos president Stuart Wood said he was “disappointed” by the incident and would be “following it up with the league”.
Whyalla Football League president Jack Velthuizen, the Weeroona Football Club and the player allegedly involved in the incident were contacted for comment but did not reply.
The incident was reported to police the next day.
An SA Police spokesman confirmed police were investigating a reported on-field assault during a football match between the Roos and Tigers at Memorial Oval on April 29.
Anyone who witnessed the alleged assault is urged to call police on 131 444.