{"id":604100,"date":"2026-04-13T12:55:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T12:55:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/604100\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T12:55:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T12:55:16","slug":"afl-umpire-nick-foot-reveals-what-he-heard-as-afl-sends-zak-butters-to-the-tribunal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/604100\/","title":{"rendered":"AFL umpire Nick Foot reveals what he heard as AFL sends Zak Butters to the tribunal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Zak Butters has been sent directly to the AFL tribunal for allegedly abusing an umpire<\/a> in Port Adelaide\u2019s Gather Round loss to St Kilda.<\/p>\n

Tempers flared in the third quarter at Adelaide Oval when St Kilda\u2019s Mitch Owens was given a free kick for a ruck infringement.<\/p>\n

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Zak Butters off to the AFL tribunal<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

Port\u2019s Ollie Wines took issue with the decision, as did Butters, who was penalised 50m and reported for abusive language as Owens goaled from close range.<\/p>\n

Two-time All-Australian midfielder Butters is alleged to have said to umpire Nick Foot: \u201cHow much are they paying you?\u201d<\/p>\n

And there has been an audio twist, as the exchange was not picked up on the umpire\u2019s microphone.<\/p>\n

Umpires wear microphones at all times throughout matches, but they are turned up and down by AFL officials at different stages of the game, so it\u2019s possible Foot\u2019s was muted after he initially told Butters of the report.<\/p>\n

The isolated audio file from the umpire\u2019s microphone during the incident, obtained by 7NEWS, has unearthed nothing more than what was heard from Butters, Wines and Foot. during the broadcast.<\/p>\n

Port will front the tribunal on Tuesday, with vice-captain Butters maintaining his innocence against a charge of abusive and insulting language towards an umpire.<\/p>\n

Speaking to Channel 7 post-match, Butters said he tried to ask umpire Foot after the game what it was for, but was turned away.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d love to know the language that I said, because I went up to him after the game to have a chat and he said he didn\u2019t want to speak to me,\u201d Butters said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll I said was, \u2018how is that a free kick\u2019 and he paid 50 and said I\u2019m on report.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a few teammates there 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 umpires.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just wanted to follow up and ask what he thought I said from his end.\u201d<\/p>\n

He went on to say he definitely didn\u2019t use any expletives and will defend himself against any potential charges.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I\u2019m a pretty honest bloke out there and have a good relationship with most umpires so I\u2019m sure the club will deal with that,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d fight to the hills because I know what I said and I didn\u2019t say anything bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Should Port fail at the tribunal, Butters is likely to face yet another fine after recently reaching the $50,000 mark in financial sanctions since making his debut in 2019.<\/p>\n

St Kilda forward Liam Ryan was docked $1500 last year for verbally abusing an umpire while playing for West Coast.<\/p>\n

\"ZakZak Butters said he would \u2018fight to the hills\u2019 to clear his name. Credit: Channel 7<\/p>\n

In 2019, former Collingwood and Carlton player Dale Thomas was sanctioned $7500 for calling an umpire a cheat, and Sydney veteran Dane Rampe was slapped with a $5000 fine for telling an umpire he talked \u201clike a little girl\u201d.<\/p>\n

St Kilda ruck Tom De Koning was also handed a $1500 fine – or $1000 for an early guilty plea – for staging in the fourth quarter against Port Adelaide on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Geelong midfielder Mark O\u2019Connor was slapped with a one-match ban for a high bump on Eagles youngster Willem Duursma in the second quarter of the Cats\u2019 win at Norwood Oval.<\/p>\n

The incident was graded as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Connor will miss Geelong\u2019s home clash against the fourth-placed Western Bulldogs should the club accept the charge.<\/p>\n

Port Adelaide statement on Butters<\/p>\n

The AFL Match Review Officer has advised Zak Butters has been referred to the AFL tribunal for an incident during Sunday\u2019s game against St Kilda.<\/p>\n

Butters has been charged with using abusive and insulting language towards an umpire.<\/p>\n

The exchange was not picked up on the umpire\u2019s microphone.<\/p>\n

The Port Adelaide Football Club will defend in the strongest possible way the allegations made by AFL umpire Nick Foot against Butters.<\/p>\n

Port Adelaide believes the words used by Butters were misheard and misconstrued from what was actually said.<\/p>\n

Acting club captain Butters is unambiguously adamant on what was said and the club strongly supports him and his position.<\/p>\n

Former club captain and Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines was standing next to Butters and Foot at the time of the exchange and will provide a witness statement in support of Butters.<\/p>\n

Port Adelaide is also disappointed that umpire Foot dismissively refused Butters\u2019 attempt to seek clarification post-game, as captain of the club.<\/p>\n

The tribunal will sit on Tuesday, April 14 at a time to be confirmed.<\/p>\n

– With 7NEWS.com.au<\/p>\n

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