A Northern Territory footballer recently released from jail faces a huge suspension for multiple acts of violence – including throwing a teenage umpire to the ground – in the NTFL.
As first reported by NT News, the vision shows PINT’s Warwick Williams, who returned to the NTFL this season after serving 14 months in prison for assault, approach a contest in the fourth term of his side’s elimination final against Southern Districts.
Williams appears to strike at two unassuming Southern Districts players before engaging in a melee, eventually grabbing the umpire trying to break up the fight and aggressively pulling him to the turf.
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It prompted senior umpire Mark Noonan to instantly place Williams on report and send him off the ground for the remainder of the match.
AFLNT confirmed in a statement the incident had been referred to the Match Review Panel, which typically released its findings on a Tuesday.
“Umpires are integral to our game and like everyone have the right to feel safe and valued at the footy,” the statement read.
“While we acknowledge that this incident must follow due process, we wish to reinforce that AFLNT strongly condemns abuse of any type in our game and has zero tolerance when it comes to umpire abuse in any form.”
Williams was released from jail last year after serving 14 months behind bars – on an initial sentence of three years and four months – for breaking a man’s jaw during a violent exchange in Darwin’s party strip.
Source Agencies
