Port Adelaide superstar Zak Butters stands by knowing what he did “and didn’t say” to umpire Nick Foot after the AFL tribunal found him guilty of umpire abuse.
But it is as yet unclear whether the Power will appeal the tribunal’s findings.
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Butters was on Tuesday evening fined $1500 after the tribunal upheld a charge of abusive and insulting language towards an umpire.
Foot alleged Butters said: “How much are they paying you?” after he awarded a free kick to St Kilda in Port’s loss to the Saints on Sunday night.
Butters vehemently denied that, insisting he had said “surely that’s not a free kick”.
The hearing lasted an hour and 40 minutes, before the panel of Renee Enbom KC, Jason Johnson and Darren Gaspar deliberated for 25 minutes and upheld the charge.
The tribunal had a 5.45pm deadline and gave its verdict before then, with written reasoning to be distributed on Wednesday morning.
“I’m clearly disappointed with the result tonight,” Butters said outside Port Adelaide headquarters.
“I stand by knowing what I said and what I didn’t say, especially what I didn’t say.
“I’d like to thank the club for the support. Thank you.”
Zak Butters celebrates a goal for the Power. Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Butters wouldn’t comment when asked if he would appeal the verdict.
The Port Adelaide stand-in captain was referred directly to the tribunal after Foot reported Butters.
A free kick was given to St Kilda’s Mitch Owens and Port’s Ollie Wines took issue with the decision, as did Butters, who was penalised 50m and reported for abusive language by Foot.
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The AFL said the exchange between Butters and Foot was not picked up by the umpire’s microphone.
Tuesday’s hearing relied on testimony from Foot, Butters, Wines and Port football boss Ben Rutten.
Foot remained steadfast in his recollection, insisting he had not misheard the comments and they clearly came from Butters.
“The comment that Butters made to me was “how much are they paying you?” Foot said.
Foot said he interpreted “they” as being “the St Kilda Football Club or someone involved with St Kilda”.
“It questioned my integrity,” he said.
“I’m 100 per cent adamant that those are the words Zak Butters said to me.
“When your integrity is questioned you don’t forget those words that are said to you.”
Port stand-in captain Butters was “100 per cent sure” he did not say “how much are they paying you” to Foot.
“I recall saying ‘surely that’s not a free kick’,” Butters said.
The Port star later added: “It hurts me because I know I didn’t say it.”
Butters said he was unaware Foot works for Sportsbet and does racing tips, a role approved by the AFL.
Foot denied he was subconsciously focused on his outside employment with Sportsbet and rejected the suggestion he was “picking up on the word pay in a way that is different to the words in fact used”.
Wines was adamant Butters did not say “how much are they paying you” and was only questioning Foot on why he awarded a free kick.
“I can’t be sure what he said but I’m adamant what he didn’t say,” Wines said.
“I categorically deny that’s what he said. I did not hear that at all or anything remotely close.”
Rutten said when Butters came off the ground after the incident, “he came straight to me and said the umpiring out there was disgusting”.
He said Butters had been confused as to why he had been reported.
