NORTH Warrnambool Eagles goal umpire Michael Lynch has been banned from attending any Victorian Country Football League match in any capacity until the end of 2011.
Lynch pleaded guilty to unbecoming conduct at the Hampden Juniors Football League independent tribunal last night.
The tribunal - which was chaired by Terry O'Keefe and included panel members Robert Anderson and Ian Yewers - heard Lynch made unlawful contact in the form of a bump to a South Warrnambool under 16 footballer after the siren of the round eight clash between the
Eagles and Roosters.
The 15-year-old South junior, who can not be named, told the hearing that the incident occurred after a confrontation between himself and Lynch's son, who was on the opposition team.
He explained his opponent would not loosen his grip when they were shaking hands after the siren.
The young Rooster said there was a minor scuffle but it was diffused by other players.
However, when he was walking towards the change-rooms he noticed Lynch moving towards him.
"I saw him coming at me in an angry manner... he was looking straight at me" he said.
"I was pretty scared something bad was going to happen."
The South player said Lynch then "lunged" to within striking distance, raised his left elbow and struck the junior to his right cheek.
It was also suggested Lynch was carrying his goal flags under his left arm, which indecently struck the junior in the neck.
After the contact, the player noticed minor lacerations to the inside of his cheek from his braces.
The player said he was "hesitant" to come out of the change-rooms after singing the celebratory song.
"(I was) really shaken, really upset," he said.
"I was scared to approach him."
Lynch said he was on his way to discuss the scorecard with his fellow goal umpire when he witnessed the
incident between his son and the Rooster.
However, he admitted he did not see anything previous to the South player pushing his son.
"I thought there was an opportunity for an all-in blue," he said.
"I was very happy a fight didn't start."
Lynch told the tribunal the incident as "very unsportsmans-like" and said he believed "when the games over, the games over".
He also expressed these beliefs to the South player on the day.
Lynch said he was unsure whether he could report the South player for what he saw.
"(But then) I just lost it," he said.
"For two seconds of my life... two seconds of my life
that I will regret forever.
"I should have left the ground (but) I was the only officiating person in that vicinity when the incident
happened."
Lynch admitted he made contact but refuted the suggestion it was with his elbow.
He believed his left shoulder made contact with the junior Rooster's right shoulder.
"I'm very remorseful for what I did," he said.
Lynch stood himself down as a goal umpire the following week but a lack of volunteers forced him back into the goal square for the round nine match between Terang Mortlake and the Eagles.
VCFL investigator Sean Halley said there was no excuse for the contact.
"It's about bringing the game into disrepute and this is likely to to that," he said
"If roles were reversed there would be a large outcry."
Lynch's advocate Eagles president Peter Doherty said he wanted other clubs to feel safe when they played against the Eagles.
He after 30 years of "impeccable" service to sport Lynch had made a mistake.
"He's not once tried to justify (the incident), just clarify (what happened)," Doherty said.
After a 30 minute deliberation the tribunal banned Lynch from any VCFL matches until the end of 2011 with a $500 fine, with $500 suspended.
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff
Twitter