Umpire v umpire

By Melissa Grant
A TRIBUNAL has suspended a Garfield Football Club volunteer from goal umpiring until 2011 after he was reported – by a field umpire – for abusive language in a reserves clash three weekends ago.
Peter Bogart admits he hurled the ‘F’ word and other colourful language at a field umpire during the Stars’ 11-point loss to Maffra in round 17, but feels the punishment far outweighs the crime.
Mr Bogart, who has been volunteering behind the goal line on and off for 10 years, was stunned by the independent panel’s ruling.
“Two weeks or a severe reprimand and I would have worn it,” he said.
The suspension is a massive blow for the Garfield Stars reserves team, which is struggling for volunteers and finished last on the West Gippsland Latrobe Football League (WGLFL) ladder.
Mr Bogart, a former reserves player for the Stars, said the incident started when the field umpire told him to get behind the goal line.
“I said I would stand where I pleased,” Mr Bogart said. “He blew the whistle, stopped the game and said I’m not resuming it until you’re replaced. He said I was reported and I told him where to go. Down at Maffra we hardly had enough players, let alone helpers and supporters.”
Mr Bogart said he told the field umpire he wasn’t going anywhere and thought nothing of the incident until after the game when the Stars’ team manger told him to sign the report.
The next day, the club secretary informed Mr Bogart he had a date with the tribunal that Wednesday night at Morwell.
He sent a letter to the tribunal apologising for the incident, but said he was unable to attend the sitting because he was working night shift.
Sale Umpire Association president Bill Madden said while he couldn’t comment much on the case, an umpire’s job was to report what was seen or heard.
“My understanding was the goal umpire was asked to do something and took offence to it and got abusive,” he said.
“In general terms, everyone would know how hard it is to recruit and retain umpires. We don’t expect umpires to go out there and be abused. We have no particular view on the penalty, generally we support the tribunal.”
WGLFL president Chris Soumilas said it was unusual for a field umpire to report a goal umpire, but warned players and club officials against swearing on the ground.
“I’ve been involved for 30 years and general manger for nine years all together with the league and I haven’t come across that before,” Mr Soumilas said.
“It’s nothing to do with this case, but over the last few seasons the AFL, through subsidiary leagues, has cracked down on abusive language.”
Mr Soumilas said he was surprised that neither Mr Bogart nor a Stars advocate attended the tribunal hearing.
“The process has been followed … they (tribunal) hear the evidence and make a decision.”
Mr Bogart can appeal the sentence but it will cost about $4250, most of which is non-refundable.
He said he was unlikely to follow that path. “It’s too much to put up, I wouldn’t ask the club to do it,” Mr Bogart said.
“I don’t know how I’m going to get them to reconsider.”