Goal umpire struck by a bottle in shocking AFL crowd act

An AFL umpire was left bloodied and had to be replaced after being struck by an object thrown from the crowd in a cowardly act.

Police and AFL officials are investigating after a goal umpire was struck by a bottle thrown from the crowd at Marvel Stadium.

Midway through the second quarter of Carlton’s 11.10 (76) to 11.8 (74) defeat to St Kilda, news filtered through that goal umpire Steven Piperno was being replaced.

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“We have had an umpire interchange guys,” Abby Holmes said on Fox Footy.

“So a goal umpire has come from the ground, he’s going down into the umpire’s rooms, and Chelsea Roffey is into the goal umpire action.”

At first, commentator Brian Taylor was incredulous at the news.

“OK. What possible injury could keep a goal umpire from standing there?” he asked as the incident unfolded.

“He’s got claret streaming from the back of his head Brian,” Dale Thomas added.

The umpire getting hit and police investigate. Photos: Fox Sports

“Has he? Gee I hope he hasn’t been hit by something,” Taylor replied.

“You’d certainly hope nothing untoward there, very strange injury for a goal umpire to have.

“Will see what we can find out.”

As the confusion continued, a replay was soon shown from the goal line, with what appeared to be a water bottle flying towards Piperno from somewhere in the crowd.

The Blues were on the wrong side of a lopsided free kick count in the first half against the Saints, which may have prompted the incredibly unacceptable act by the member of the crowd.

“So what’s happened here with the goal umpire?” commentator Alister Nicholson said, before the replay was shown. “Oh no. Well that is just completely unacceptable.”

“And it must have had water in it as well to inflict any sort of cut,” Taylor added. “So that is just an absolute disgrace.

“There’s just no room for that in any of our game, regardless.”

Umpire Steven Piperno and his bloody cap.

Piperno was shown on the bench and while he appeared in good spirits, he had suffered a cut to the back of his head and his bloodied cap could be seen sitting on his knee.

“I know he looks OK and he’s taking it in good spirits, but there’s quite a lot of blood being drawn out of the back of the scone there,” Taylor said.

“Not something to make light of.

“That is just nothing short of disgraceful. No wonder (the supporters) are sitting quietly behind the goals at the moment and I’m surprised, very shortly, that there won’t be people down there very shortly taking action.”

Officials and police could soon be seen in the area trying to ascertain what had taken place.

“The person that has lobbed that onto the field of play will be found by the cameras,” Thomas said.

“And not welcome back,” Nicholson added.

Fox Footy then discussed it at halftime of the game.

“One of if not the worst off-field incident we’ve seen for the year. A coward’s act,” Garry Lyon said.

Officials investigate the crowd act.

Reporter Jon Ralph added: “One lifetime ban coming up for that Marvel Stadium patron who threw that bottle at the back of the head of the goal umpire.

“It did draw claret as well. I’ve spoken to the AFL, security is already on the job and the AFL has enough security cameras to identify that patron.

“They’re not a cheer squad member of Carlton, they left the ground immediately.”

The match was a massive blow to the Blues’ finals hopes, as a win would have guaranteed their place in September.

Jack Higgins’ goal with 16 seconds left gave the Saints the four-point win and Carlton’s hopes now rest in Fremantle’s hands.

If the Dockers beat Port Adelaide in the final match of the regular season, they will grab the eighth and final spot on the ladder.

But the earlier crowd incident shocked onlookers and drew a strong reaction on social media, including from someone who claimed to have seen it take place.

“Happened directly in front of us,” they wrote on X. “Took too long for them to get the (umpire) off and fixed up too. Poor dude was bleeding for ages. Unacceptable fan behaviour.”

Another wrote: “Lifetime ban from AFL and Marvel Stadium at a minimum.”

A third added: “Appalling act. They will be caught and hopefully charged with assault.”

Originally published as Goal umpire struck by a bottle in shocking AFL crowd act