- AFL umpire bleeding after ‘disgraceful’ incident
- Manhunt for fan who threw a bottle into the field
A goal umpire has been led from the field requiring medical attention after he was struck in the head thrown by a footy fan during one of the final games of the AFL home and away season.
Goal umpire Steven Piperno was hit from behind by a flying bottle, which appeared to be full of water halfway through the second quarter during Carlton’s crucial clash against St Kilda at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
He was replaced by an emergency umpire as medical staff checked out him on the boundary line.
It’s understood the fan fled from the stadium shortly after the incident as police and stadium security launched an investigation.
The bottle came from the direction of the Carlton cheer squad who were vocal throughout the first two quarters, as their team caught the business end of a 12-3 free kick count.
Piperno didn’t return to the field to officiate the second half, but he gave the crowd and TV cameras a double thumbs up shortly after his assessment while sitting on the boundary line.
AFL pundits expect the fan to receive a lifetime ban once they’re caught.
Shocked commentators voiced their disappointment with the fan both during and after the match.
Goal umpire Steven Piperno was hit in the head by the flying water bottle in the second term
Medical staff checked out Piperno, who was bleeding from his head as a result of the incident
‘Bloody awful seeing a bottle thrown at the goal umpire,’ former Sydney Swans star turned AFL commentator Jude Bolton posted on X.
‘Unacceptable & disgusting behaviour.’
Channel Seven commentator Brian Taylor called the incident an ‘absolute disgrace’.
‘There’s just no room for that anywhere in any of our games,’ he said.
‘I know he looks okay, and he’s taken it in good spirit, but there’s quite a lot of blood being drawn out of the back of (his head) there, so (it’s) not something to make light of.’
Garry Lyon also called out the ‘cowardly act’ on Fox Footy’s Sunday Ticket.
‘That’s borderline assault, that’s what it is … This coward will be outed, and they will never come back to the footy again,’ he said.
Piperno didn’t return to his duties in the second half, but threw supporters a double thumbs up
Richmond veteran Jack Riewoldt noted the bottle came from low in the stands.
‘Someone’s made an effort to walk down through the cheer squad and throw a bottle at a goal umpire who has absolutely no influence over free kick count … it is a genuine coward’s act.’
It’s understood police have questioned nearby witnesses as they continue to investigate.
Fans took to social media to share their disgust with the ‘dog act’.
‘Whoever it was that threw the water bottle and hit the goal umpire should be charged with assault and banned for at least 10 years,’ one fan wrote on X.
Police and security at Marvel Stadium immediately investigated the incident on Sunday night
Tensions were high in Melbourne as the Blues desperately tried to snag a spot in the finals
‘Deserved life ban coming for the absolute troglodyte who threw that water bottle at the goal umpire. Despicable,’ wrote another.
Tensions were high during the final home-and-away game as Carlton desperately tried to secure a spot in the top eight going into finals.
However, the Saints clinched the victory to finish the season in .
A late goal to Jack Higgins put the Saints ahead with just 12 seconds left on the clock to claim a two point victory.
Carlton managed to scrape into the finals after Port Adelaide defeated Fremantle.
