Watch every match of every round of the AFL Premiership Season LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n After Saints forward Mitchito Owens was awarded a contentious free kick, Butters appeared to ask umpire Nick Foot why the free kick had been awarded. <\/p>\n Foot didn\u2019t hesitate in paying a 50m penalty against Butters for his words, stunning both he and nearby teammate Ollie Wines as Owens strolled into an open goal to push the margin out to 31 points.<\/p>\n As Butters and Wines jogged back to the middle for the next centre bounce, Foot ran past Butters and informed him he was on report.<\/p>\n Broadcast cameras captured Butters\u2019 shocked reaction.<\/p>\n Code Sports<\/a> first reported Butters actually said: \u201cWhy are you paying that?\u201d <\/p>\n The case took another twist on Monday when football journalist Tom Morris reported there was no umpire microphone audio available. <\/p>\n Footy commentators Kane Cornes and David King on Monday said Foot should apologise to Butters if he mistakenly interpreted Butters\u2019 comments as a form of abuse. <\/p>\n \u201cZach Butters is really annoyed this morning and he was last night,\u201d Morris said on SEN Breakfast.<\/p>\n \u201cHe feels like his reputation and his standing in the game has been put through the mud by the suggestion from umpire Nick Foot that he has abused him in any way shape or form.\u201d<\/p>\n However, Morris also reported the comment said by Butters allegedly questioned the umpire\u2019s \u201cintegrity\u201d. <\/p>\n Cornes said Foot would \u201chave to lose his position\u201d temporarily if Butters is cleared of any wrongdoing. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s big for Zak. It\u2019s big. It\u2019s cost him a fifty and a goal,\u201d Cornes said on SEN.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd he\u2019s been placed on report and there\u2019s a certain level of shame that comes with that. That you let your team down at a crucial time. So what\u2019s the ramifications for the umpire?\u201d<\/p>\n The Port Adelaide premiership winner also called for the AFL to release the \u201ctape\u201d from the umpire\u2019s microphone.<\/p>\n Butters was immediately on the front foot defending his behaviour. <\/p>\n Speaking to Seven\u2019s Xander McGuire immediately after the siren, the out-of-contract midfielder was unwavering in his defence of the incident. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d love to know the language that I said, because I went up to him after the game and obviously just to have a chat \u2014 like any two humans do,\u201d Butters said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe said he didn\u2019t want to speak to me. All I said was: \u2018How was that a free kick?\u2019 He gave it 50, and said I\u2019m on report.<\/p>\n \u201cI had a few teammates right next to me, Ollie Wines. I\u2019m curious to follow that one up, because I\u2019m never going to say anything bad to the umpire. I just want to follow up and ask what he thought I said from his end.\u201d<\/p>\n When queried by McGuire on whether any expletives were used, Butters responded: \u201cGenuinely no swear words (or) any bad language. That\u2019s why I was curious and obviously a bit frustrated, because it led to a goal. <\/p>\n \u201cI feel like I\u2019m a pretty honest bloke out there and have a good relationship with most umpires. I\u2019m sure the club will deal with that. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d fight it (any charge) to the hills, because I know what I said, and I know I didn\u2019t say anything bad.\u201d<\/p>\n The free kick came at a costly time for the hosts, who went on to kick four of the next five goals to get back within nine points before ultimately falling short.<\/p>\n Port Adelaide have a six-day break before their Round 6 clash with Hawthorn on Saturday afternoon at Marvel Stadium.<\/p>\n![\"Butters](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2ecc5beaf88799a27a79348a0df4f6d0.jpeg\")
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