Fan cops lifetime ban for ‘disgraceful’ and ‘unacceptable’ act that left AFL umpire bloodied

The AFL have handed a lifetime ban to a disgraced fan who threw a bottle at a goal umpire during the Blues-Saints clash at Marvel Stadium last weekend.

In a statement, the league confirmed that the man in question will never be permitted to attend an AFL or AFLW match again.

In recent days, the patron was charged by police for recklessly causing injury, discharge of a missile and unlawful assault.

The 23-year-old Northcote man was bailed to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on the 1st of November 2024.

“Our clear message is this – what we witnessed on Sunday is not acceptable and it never will be.” AFL General Counsel Stephen Meade said in a statement released on Friday afternoon.

“A record 7.75 million fans attended matches this year, we have the best fans in the world, but if you choose to assault someone who is doing their job then you will lose the privilege of being able to attend the footy.

“On behalf of the AFL thank you to the fans in the area who helped identify the bottle thrower and Victoria Police for acting so swiftly.

“We are glad Steven was not seriously hurt and we look forward to seeing him umpire in this year’s finals series.”

Halfway through the second quarter of the Blues-Saints clash, replay vision showed a bottle — seemingly full of water and thrown with force — striking the goal umpire.

The fan is understood to have fled the scene immediately after committing the reprehensible act.

“That is just completely unacceptable,” Seven commentator Alistair Nicholson said.

“And it must have had water in it to be able to inflict any sort of cut,” added caller Brian Taylor.

“That is just an absolute disgrace; there’s just no room for that anywhere in any of our games.

“I know he looks OK, and he’s taken it in good spirit, but there’s quite a lot of blood being drawn out of the back of (his head) there, so (it’s) not something to make light of.”