Australian football
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AFL Riverina's independent tribunal has thrown the book at a local umpire for an ugly incident during the Carroll Cup final.
Riverina Umpires Association (RUA) member Darren Smyth was slapped with a three-year suspension from all forms of umpiring when he fronted the tribunal on Tuesday night.
He was found guilty of breaching the AFL Member Protection Policy.
Smyth was acting as a goal umpire during the schoolboy football game at Robertson Oval on Thursday, May 29.
The Daily Advertiser understands a complaint was made against Smyth claiming he was aggressive towards a young spectator who was standing behind the goals.
During the grand final, a teacher from Kildare Catholic College approached AFL NSW-ACT and Carroll Cup officials following the alleged incident and a formal complaint was later lodged against Smyth.
An investigation ensued.
AFL NSW-ACT released a media statement yesterday afternoon.
"The suspension will be back-dated from the date of the incident, and the terms of the penalty recommend that Smyth undergoes counselling as part of the disciplinary process," it read.
"If these conditions are met, the case will be reviewed by the same disciplinary panel after 18 months."
The Daily Advertiser understands Smyth man-handled a 14-year-old Kildare student during the game.
The incident was caught on video.
The student's family was contacted by The Daily Advertiser but didn't want to go on the record.
However they confirmed they would be contacting AFL House to discuss the imposed penalty.
RUA coaching manager Tim Beard was contacted but said the association had been instructed by AFL NSW-ACT not to comment on the situation.
Kildare Catholic College was also instructed not to make a comment to media.
Smyth is a well-known figure around the local football circles and is an RUA committee member.
