Umpire assaulted during Spencer Gulf Football League Grand Final

AdelaideNow has reported that one of the umpires from the Spencer Gulf Football League Grand Final was assaulted during three quarter time of the match, following threats against the league's umpires in recent weeks.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/umpire-paul-fitzgerald-bashed-during-a-grade-footy-grand-final-at-port-pirie/story-e6frea83-1226479835279

The only word to describe this is disgraceful. As much as we complain about the umpiring, they don't deserve to be attacked for simply doing their job. Given the threats allegedly made against the umps in this league in recent weeks, perhaps an appropriate punishment is to play the first couple of rounds next season behind locked gates. That way the players don't get punished, but the spectators get punished for this behaviour, and the clubs get punished for not addressing the issue seriously.

Unfortunately I think it's just a sign of 'society' - seems to be less and less respect for everyone.

Given all the witnesses lets just hope that the guilty person is penalised accordingly and made an example of.

There is no place for this thuggery at all let alone a footy game. Ban him for life, name him and shame him with his photo in the local papers so that everyone knows who this COWARD is.

testy wrote:
There is no place for this thuggery at all let alone a footy game. Ban him for life, name him and shame him with his photo in the local papers so that everyone knows who this COWARD is.

absolutely spot on

The alleged culprit, Jeffrey John Hunter, has faced court, charged with recklessly causing harm to another person.

The case has been adjourned until next month

i heard a bit of this on the news, interesting comment (i agree with him) by the victim regarding the written apology he received

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/man-pleads-guilty-to-hitting-pirie-footy-umpire/story-e6frea83-1226588405155

A Mum wrote:Unfortunately I think it's just a sign of 'society' - seems to be less and less respect for everyone.

I've just spent three weeks in Thailand and it has been a wonderful escape from the spiralling aggression in western cultures. Apart from the odd display of aggro from drunken western tourists, it has been a pleasure to experience how the Thai people respect each other. We could really learn from them. As they say, in Thailand, a smile is your passport, and it's amazing how you can communicate by just being pleasant.

A classic example is the traffic. At first observation it's chaos, until you realise it's controlled chaos. You don't have accidents over here because if you do, you are without a car for months and have to catch taxis, etc, therefore everyone just blends in and away they go.

In the streets, there's no pushing past people, etc, just take your turn. If someone reaches the stairs a step ahead of you, simply allow them to go first. So simple, and yet so effective.

After three weeks I feel at peace with the world .... it's a pity all of that will be undone by 24 hours back in Adelaide. I couldn't imagine the Thais playing Australian Rules

Sounds good AH - glad you're having a good time - sounds like you should enjoy it while you can !!

Hunter got 7 months for the king hit.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/footballer-jeffrey-john-hunter-jailed-for-king-hitting-umpire-paul-fitzgerald/story-e6frea83-1226632593292