North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has avoided a sanction for allegedly directing “vile language” towards the umpires bench during Saturday’s loss to Port Adelaide.
The AFL was was unable to determine if his poor language was directed towards match officials.
Clarkson apologised after using a two-word phrase when a decision went against the Kangaroos during the third quarter of the game. He was overheard by everyone in the area, from the umpires and security guards to the officials.
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“I acknowledge that during the third quarter of Saturday’s game in a moment of frustration I lost my temper and swore while I was coaching from the bench,” Clarkson said.
“It was undisciplined by me and I have expressed my apologies to the AFL.
“As a club we can do without these distractions and as such I have agreed that it’s best if I remain in the coaches box on match days for the rest of this season.
“In the meantime I’ll continue to seek support on how I deal with these moments.”
The league said in a statement: “The AFL this week made inquiries into an incident involving North Melbourne Senior Coach Alastair Clarkson during Saturday afternoon’s match in Hobart.”
“The AFL was made aware of the alleged comments by a match day official post-game who heard the comments, with the AFLIU following up the report.
“Clarkson has admitted to loudly swearing and using inappropriate language while standing near the umpires and officials’ bench in response to an umpiring decision during the third quarter.
“After talking to match officials, the AFL was not able to be comfortably satisfied that Clarkson’s swearing was directed towards a specific person or persons and in particular an AFL match official or officials and as such no finding of a breach of AFL Rules has been made.”
It comes after Clarkson earlier this year was handed a $20,000 fine and suspended two-match ban for a homophobic slur at St Kilda defender Jimmy Webster after a high-hit on North captain Jy Simpkin.
If found guilty of conduct unbecoming the 56-year-old was facing a two-man ban, with North Melbourne to face West Coast and Collingwood after the club’s bye.
“Clarkson was incensed by an umpiring decision in the second half and shouted a profanity,” Morris said on 9News on Wednesday night.
“It is accepted those close to the situation that the four-time premiership coach used vile language which was audible to official nearby.
“But what the league’s investigation will uncover was whether he shouted it towards the bench of AFL match officials or not.
“The results of this could be career defining for Clarkson, whose rap sheet includes 12 demeanours for varying degrees since 2006.”
Chief Herald Sun reporter Mark Robinson on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 shed further light on the matter.
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“There’s no denying he used two words, we’re not going to repeat them here. They’re two of the worst words you can use in the English language,” Robinson said.
“My understanding is Clarkson said those words but didn’t direct them at anyone. There was only a small crowd there, it’s been heard and Clarkson hasn’t denied using those words.
“But he’s told people that he didn’t direct them at anybody. The AFL is trying to further establish that as we speak.”
Robinson added that irrespective of whether or not Clarkson directed it at the umpires, the AFL still face a decision around whether it bans the Roos coach or not given his track record and standing in the game.
“Does the use of those two word in a audible situation by a man who’s got a two-week suspended sentence over his head, is that worth acting on the two-week suspension?” Robinson posed.
“The AFL can’t walk past that … they represent a big community in Australia and once again Clarkson, who’s as high profile as any person in this game, finds himself in headlines he doesn’t want nor the AFL.”
Reports last month claimed Clarkson had yet to undergo any education for the pre-season exchange with St Kilda players.
Source Agencies
