A CASTLEMAINE reserves footballer has been suspended for five years by the Bendigo Football-Netball League tribunal after an incident in which he wiped blood onto the shirt of an umpire.
Magpie player Christopher Irving was handed the five-year suspension on Wednesday night, as well as eight matches on a headbutting report.
The incidents are from last Saturday’s round 18 reserves match against Golden Square at MyJet Oval.
Irving did not attend the tribunal hearing, while Castlemaine hasn’t been able to make contact with him since he left Golden Square on Saturday.
Irving was reported under the rule of making contact to an umpire, while the headbutting report was against Bulldogs’ player Tom Hughes.
The infringed umpire was Ben O’Brien, while Irving was also reported by another umpire, Tim James.
The two suspensions effectively equate to a combined 98 games, meaning Irving, 20, will be deregistered.
Tribunal chairman Russell Kelly said a tough penalty had to be applied to reinforce the message to all players that umpires are not to be touched.
“Any deliberate contact on an umpire will not be tolerated, especially when it’s the act of wiping blood on an umpire,” Kelly said.
“In our deliberation over the penalty was the effect it had on the umpire, who is only young. He was very upset after the game at what happened, so we wanted to make sure that was reflected in the penalty.”
Castlemaine football operations manager Lachlan Maltby said Irving’s actions last Saturday were not condoned by the club.
“He’s done the wrong thing and it’s not what we’re about as a club.”
