The AFL umpires at the centre of the Lachie Schultz concussion drama are considering legal action after they say public commentary cast aspersions on their integrity and competence.
The AFL Umpires Association confirmed the umpires – Simon Meredith, Craig Fleer, Justin Power and Martin Rodger – were given legal advice after Collingwood forward Schultz’s May 8 concussion, Nine’s Tom Morris reported on Tuesday.
Magpies star Lachie Schultz collapses in the hands of medical staff.Credit: Getty Images
“The umpires involved in the Fremantle vs Collingwood game have been advised as to their legal rights in relation to some of the commentary that followed the Lachlan Schultz concussion issue,” AFL Umpires Association chief executive boss Rob Kerr said in a statement provided to Morris and seen by this masthead. The statement did not say who the umpires were considering legal action against.
“Being falsely accused of lying and misleading the AFL goes beyond simply questioning the management of the actual incident.
“Public commentary that casts aspersions on an individual’s integrity and professional competence, particularly when that is core to the role they perform, harms their personal and professional standing and it is reasonable to consider how that can be rectified.”
The AFL’s football operations boss Laura Kane originally pointed the finger at the umpires over the concussion drama, wrongly claiming the umpires misled the league about whether they saw the injured player.
It later emerged the umpires were aware Schultz was lying injured on the Optus Stadium surface during the match on May 8. The umpires didn’t see his incident with Fremantle opponent Jordan Clark, but realised he had been concussed.
Schultz talking to teammates after over the win over Fremantle in which he copped a heavy knock.Credit: Getty Images
Play continued for a short time, away from Schultz’s vicinity, after he was injured.
The league cleared the umpires of any wrongdoing, citing a miscommunication with the umpiring department. Kane did not apologise to the umpires but admitted the league’s processes failed.
She said the league took “full responsibility” for that failing.
“Today we have determined there was a miscommunication from members of the umpiring department, not the field umpires, which formed the basis of our initial public statement on Friday,” Kane said in a statement last month.
“Those team members have been counselled and reminded of the importance of ensuring our process is fully followed regarding these types of incidents and in this instance it was not.”
The umpires’ association has been contacted for further comment.
