Yarra Junior Football League investigating alleged umpire assault by player

One of Melbourne’s biggest junior football leagues is investigating after a player allegedly felled an umpire on the weekend.

The YJFL is investigating an incident in which a player allegedly felled an umpire on the weekend.

One of Melbourne’s biggest junior football competitions is investigating an incident in which an umpire was allegedly pushed to the ground by a player.

The alleged incident is said to have happened during an under-15 game in the Yarra Junior Football League (YJFL) on the weekend.

YJFL chief executive officer Aaron Bailey confirmed the league was investigating the incident but declined to comment further due to the age of the players who took part in the match.

“In relation to an incident which occurred at a Yarra Junior Football League under-15 match on the weekend, a report was made and the league is currently investigating the matter, which is in line with the league’s standard processes,” Bailey said.

An eyewitness alleged to this masthead: “The boy was initially given a red card for attacking another player then he started arking up to the umpire and his runner went to stop him, to march him off the field.

“The umpire said to him after the red card, ‘you’ll never play footy again’ or something like that.

“The player pushed the runner and knocked him to the ground and he went for the umpire and kept swearing at the umpire and then pushed him to the ground.

“I am not sure if he punched him but he definitely made physical contact and was trying his best to attack him and was swearing and saying ‘I f***ing hate this game’.”

The YJFL comprises more than 11,000 participants across 32 clubs, and umpiring numbers had grown from 300 to 600 this year.

The league made headlines in 2023 when it restricted parents from entering the field at quarter-time and three-quarter time to create a “welcoming and inclusive” environment for players, coaches and umpires.