AFL 2022: League boss confirms umpire at centre of Brownlow scandal dumped

The AFL is adamant there will be no changes to Brownlow Medal voting despite an umpire allegedly leaking results.

AFL umpire Michael Pell has been dumped. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

The AFL has confirmed the umpire at the centre of the Brownlow Medal betting scandal has been dumped but voting for the award will not change as a result of the drama.

Former field umpire Michael Pell was one of four men arrested last month over suspicious betting activity, having allegedly leaked votes on specific matches this year including those he was involved in.

But AFL boss Gillon McLachlan said there was no concern over the voting process and it would “stay exactly the same”.

“All the suggestions I’ve heard, it’s not that they’re not worthy, but they wouldn’t have dealt with this issue,” he said on Thursday.

“In the end, the allegations go to the personal integrity of an individual.

“At some point, right through every system, someone has to make a decision when they have information that, if they‘re compromised, can lead to issues like we’ve allegedly got here.”

Umpire Michael Pell was arrested over illegal betting activity. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

The umpires award Brownlow votes on a 3-2-1 basis after each game and the voting being kept secret is sacrosanct among whistleblowers.

Some former umpires feared backlash after the scandal was revealed, but McLachlan was adamant the integrity of the award had not been compromised.

“There‘s damage caused by that scandal and I think the umpires have been hurting, but I don’t think the integrity of the Brownlow is compromised in any way,” McLachlan said.

“There was not any manipulation of the votes … it was an issue of personal integrity, allegedly. We’ve got to see how that plays out.

“The allegations have wounded the umpires personally and I feel for them, but I don‘t think it bleeds into the Brownlow (itself).”

Pell has been removed from the umpiring panel, with a replacement to be appointed over summer, but that was as far as the AFL could go.

“There is no employment relationship between the AFL and the umpire at the centre of the allegations,” McLachlan said.

“The broader consequences are now with the police because it‘s a criminal matter.”