Melbourne footy league to fine umpire abusers

A league in Melbourne’s north will whack umpire abusers with hefty fines after losing more than 130 officials in a year. And it could spark others to follow suit.

The league has had enough of those off-field abusing umpires. Picture: Stephen Harman

Footy loudmouths who abuse umpires will be fined up to $250 in a suburban league crackdown.

The Essendon District Football League is taking the hard line stance to combat weekly complaints about “inappropriate comments” towards match officials.

It’s losing more than 130 umpires a year with dozens citing abuse from officials and supporters as the key reason they quit.

League football operations manager Steve Webb told the Sunday Herald Sun the fines were mostly directed towards officials including coaches and team managers who in recent months were responsible for the “most abuse” towards umpires.

“We have been deeply concerned about this type of behaviour as the wellbeing of our umpires is important,” Mr Webb said.

“Umpires are giving it their best shot out there and these fines will act as a deterrent and attempt to stamp out this type of behaviour.”

Dane Swan playing for Westmeadows in the Essendon District Football League, against Tullamarine. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

Up to 40 per cent of ex-umpires the league surveyed revealed they quit due to abuse from the sidelines, he said.

Parents were alerted to the overhaul in an email issued on Friday which pleaded with team managers and coaches to set an example for players.

Posters had been placed in changerooms to help spread the word that bad behaviour wouldn’t be tolerated.

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West Coburg Football Club president David Gloury, whose side plays in the Essendon league, said there was a high turnover of umpires.

He backed fining abusive officials but said education would be of more benefit for parents who failed to respect umpires.

“While I’m not aware of these issues within our club, I do know it has been a broader problem for the league,” Mr Gloury said. “I think there needs to be more education directed towards educating parents, supporters and officials to recognise that this behaviour is unacceptable.”

Mr Gloury said umpire abuse had “detrimental effects” on the game.

“Parents need to think about what they’re saying, if this was their child would they be yelling and screaming like this?” he said.

“No umpires means no games — that will be the real repercussion.”

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