Northern Blues will not appeal VAFA tribunal decision to ban under-19 player Mohamed Kodsi until end of 2016

UPDATE: NORTHERN Blues president Jon Carter says the club will not appeal a two-and-a-half year ban handed to one of its under-19 players.

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UPDATE: NORTHERN Blues president Jon Carter says the club will not appeal a two-and-a-half year ban handed to one of its under-19 players on Tuesday night by the Victorian Amateur Football Association tribunal.

The VAFA suspended Mohamed Kodsi until 2017 after he was found guilty of a charge of intentionally, recklessly or negligently making contact with or striking an umpire.

Carter said the Blues’ executive met last night and decided against appealing the ban.

He said the club was torn between supporting its player’s version of events and backing the league’s tough stance on violence against officials.

“He’s a good kid, a quiet kid, who doesn’t have an aggressive bone in his body,” Carter said.

“That’s why it was such an unfortunate thing.”

Carter said Kodsi had been involved in a melee during the Blues’ under-19 North match against Therry Penola on Saturday, May 17, when the incident occurred.

He said Kodsi told the tribunal he turned out of a crowd of players, grabbing an umpire he thought was an opponent and throwing him to the ground.

“He was actually down in a melee, turned and grabbed a pair of legs that were behind him and lifted them,” he said.

“It happened to be the umpire. It’s unfortunate that it’s an official.

“That was said at the tribunal and I think there was corroborating evidence from the runner from (Therry) Penola.”

Carter said Kodsi’s actions were negligent, but not malicious.

He said the Blues would work with the VAFA to try and keep the young footballer involved with the club and would provide support from a psychologist and welfare officer.

“Both of those will be getting involved to try and assist him and we’ll also be asking the VAFA what capacity that we can keep him around the club assisting,” he said.

The VAFA Umpires Association labelled the ban inadequate and called on the league to punish Kodsi with a life ban.

He will be required to gain a permit from AFL Victoria to play again when the ban finishes.

The umpire involved in the incident, Paul Colbert, was fit to officiate in the VAFA last weekend.

EARLIER:

THE VICTORIAN Amateur Football Association Umpires Association has slammed a two-and-a-half year ban handed down last night to an under-19 footballer who “manhandled” an umpire as inadequate.

Northern Blues player Mohamed Kodsi was banned until the end of 2016 by the league tribunal after being found guilty of a charge of intentionally, recklessly or negligently making contact with or striking an umpire.

A statement from the VAFA confirmed Kodsi was charged for grabbing experienced umpire Paul Colbert and throwing him to the ground during the Blues’ under-19 North match against Therry Penola on Saturday, May 17.

Kodsi attended last night’s tribunal hearing and pleaded guilty to the charge.

He will be required to apply to AFL Victoria for a permit to play from 2017.

In a statement posted on its website, VAFAUA president Daniel Silfo said a life ban would have been appropriate punishment.

“The VAFAUA strongly supports the independent process of the tribunal and

acknowledges that this type of incident is extremely rare in the VAFA,” Silfo said.

“We believe a life ban was appropriate as there should be no tolerance for manhandling an official at any level of any sport.”

Silfo said a safe working environment was paramount to the retention and recruitment of umpires.

The statement has since been removed and replaced by a message saying the association will make further comment at its monthly meeting after new evidence was made available this morning.

Northern Blues president Jon Carter said the club’s committee would meet tonight to discuss the tribunal verdict, adding an appeal was unlikely.

He declined to comment further.

VAFA chief executive Michael Sholly this morning said the incident was the first time in more than 10 years a player had been found guilty of manhandling an umpire.

“This is an extremely unusual case in the VAFA,” Sholly said.

“The VAFA administers over 2300 matches each year and this case is the first where a player has been found guilty of manhandling an umpire in over a decade.”

Solly described the protection of match officials at VAFA games as “sacrosanct”.

The incident did not stop Colbert umpiring on the weekend.

Northern Blues won the Round 6 match 8.4 (52) to 6.11 (47).