Epping official handed life ban by Northern Football League after incident at junior game

THE Northern Football League has slapped a club official with a lifetime ban after an incident at an under-15 match last month.

THE Northern Football League has slapped a club official with a lifetime ban after an incident at an under-15 match last month.

League records show Epping runner Michael Yarevski faced the tribunal on Tuesday night and the Leader has been told he was charged with offences which occurred after the final siren at a Round 3 match between Epping and Kinglake.

NFL chief executive Peter McDougall said the league had a no tolerance policy regarding the behaviour of club officials.

“He was reported from an investigation into an incident which happened after a match a couple of weeks ago,” McDougall said.

“From that there were some charges laid and based on those charges the tribunal found him guilty and suspended him for life.”

Epping junior director Mark McNeil said the club was “very serious” about maintaining player and official safety of match days.

McDougall said under the terms of the ban, Yarevski would be unable to serve in an off-field role or play in football matches statewide.

“The life ban means he cannot officiate in any league,” he said.

“Under the tribunal (rules), because he’s received more than 16 weeks he’ll also become deregistered as an official and possibly a player.”

The league would not provide specific details but said the charges related to physical and verbal incidents.

McDougall said the two match umpires were not involved in the incidents.

He said the league had made a decisive statement against poor behaviour during matches.

“One thing I made clear when I first came out here was that match-day environments were my number one priority,” he said.

“Every game that’s in the league should be conducted in a quality environment.

“Therefore, any issues or matters that could jeopardise that are frowned upon.”

McDougall said police were not investigating.