Arabic version: حكم في دوري كرة القدم الأسترالية يبلغ عن تهديدات بعد نهائي هوكس

According to ABC News, AFL umpire Hayden Meyer said he felt “threatened” and intimidated after abuse from Hawthorn players following the Hawks’ preliminary final loss to Brisbane at the MCG. Police are also continuing enquiries into fan behaviour during and after the match.

A 34-year-old Seaford man is expected to be charged on summons with aggravated unlawful assault and discharge a missile after allegedly throwing a plate of food at a woman and child. Police also interviewed a 56-year-old Tullamarine man who was identified after allegedly throwing a bottle onto the field at the end of the game. He was fined $418 under the Major Events Act.

A 40-year-old Croydon man was the second person fined after security detained him for throwing a bottle onto the field before police spoke to him. Bottles and cans were thrown after the match, including some in the direction of umpires as they left the field following Meyer’s holding-the-ball decision against Hawthorn’s Jarman Impey. The decision gave Brisbane a go-ahead goal with 18 seconds remaining.

Meyer said Hawthorn captain James Sicily and defender Tom Barrass confronted him after the final siren. Barrass later apologised, which Meyer said he accepted, while Meyer said he was still waiting to hear from Sicily. Both Hawks players were fined over their actions. Meyer, who will officiate in the AFL grand final between Fremantle and Brisbane, urged supporters to be passionate but not “cross the line.”

Impey said the holding-the-ball call was correct and expressed hope that Meyer would not receive hate messages. Meyer said the incident was disappointing because poor treatment of umpires could discourage people, including junior umpires and children, from taking up officiating in local communities.