North Pines footballer Damian Rigney banned for life from Adelaide Amateur Football League

AN Adelaide amateur footballer has been suspended for 32 weeks — leading to a lifetime ban from the league — after being found guilty of racial vilification and attempting to headbutt an umpire.

AN Adelaide amateur footballer has been suspended for 32 weeks — leading to a lifetime ban from the league — after being found guilty of racial vilification and attempting to headbutt an umpire.

The Adelaide Amateur Football League suspended North Pines player Damian Rigney — a former South Adelaide SANFL player — at a tribunal hearing this week.

The sentence was enough to spark an automatic life ban from the AAFL, which kicks in when any player is suspended for 12 matches or more.

He received a 10-match ban for attempting to headbutt an umpire, two eight-game penalties for threatening an umpire and racial vilification, and six weeks for umpire abuse.

The sentence comes after North Pines walked off and forfeited its Division 7 semi-final against Adelaide University at University Oval on Saturday because three players had been reported.

Amateur league chief executive John Kernahan would not comment.

Rigney, who played 30 league games for South Adelaide from 2001-02, has also exceeded the 16-game threshold of football’s national deregistration policy that has been adopted by the SANFL and many country or suburban leagues.

His Redbacks teammate Kristian Newchurch was found guilty of umpire abuse but had his suspension reduced from six to four matches after showing exceptional conduct at the tribunal.

North Pines has until late on Saturday to appeal.

North Pines and Rigney are still being sought for comment.