Richmond cheer squad calls for list of appropriate phrases after series of fan ejections for umpire abuse
A Richmond cheer squad member says the AFL is ‘turning fans away’ after several fans were ejected from games for umpire abuse in recent weeks.
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Richmond’s cheer squad has urged the AFL to issue it with a list of phrases it can use at games after a dramatic escalation in the ejection of fans during matches.
The league will on Tuesday review whether it will take further action against a Carlton fan who called umpire Matthew Nicholls a “bald headed flog” on Saturday.
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It comes as the AFL Umpires Association lobbies the league for a competition-wide campaign against umpire abuse.
Nicholls called out the fan, with security guards escorting him to an AFL integrity officer who interviewed him about his conduct.
Richmond cheer squad member Brett Beattie said on Monday the cheer squad had been surrounded by security guards and integrity officers since the Round 5 clash against Hawthorn.
A fan was given a three-week ban for calling an umpire a “green maggot” at that game, with reports three more Tigers fans were ejected the following week against North Melbourne.
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It is understood a fan was ejected at that Kangaroos clash after calling an umpire a “dog”.
Beattie said the fans were in the dark about what they were allowed to say in humour, adamant any phrases with racism or abusive language were already off limits.
“We have noticed a massive increase in security around the cheer squad bays the last couple of weeks,” he said.
“There are two guys dressed up like FBI agents from the integrity department and a spotter who points us out to the integrity guys and takes photos and sends it to the club and tries to ban us.
“They are turning fans away. What are we allowed to say? Where is the line? We know we can’t abuse umpires, or use foul language but where is the warning?
“People say it is a family event but it’s not the theatre. If people yell out the wrong thing they get corrected now by the people around them. We had three people taken out of the Richmond-Kangaroos game before quarter time.”
The AFL Umpires Association refused to comment on Monday but has had discussions with the league about how to reduce against umpires.
Up to 50 per cent of umpires at lower leagues walk away from the game, with the game-day atmosphere one of the biggest concerns.
That campaign could involve players, coaches and broadcasters as the league seeks to reduce abuse.
The umpires union has an issue with the amount of replays shown of fans abusing umpires over the fence after contentious decisions, believing it normalises abuse.
The league says it will review the “bald headed flog” comments on Tuesday, having denied it had a part in the banning of the fan involved in the “green maggot” comments.
"The AFL confirms Marvel Stadium security and police evicted a patron during the Carlton v Brisbane Lions match on Saturday afternoon,” it said in a statement.
“At the conclusion of Round 12, the AFL will review all of the available information and security report to assess if any further action should be taken."
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