AFL Tribunal to find and fine off the ball

[Troy G]

The AFL Tribunal has resolved that any 'off the ball / behind the play' reportable incidents that come before it will now be subject to increased penalties following its review of the 2003 season.

The annual Tribunal Review Meeting, comprising all members of the AFL panel and senior football operations staff, was held last week .

"The Tribunal Review process is extremely important for the game to examine all decisions made over the course of a year, once the heat has been taken out of any individual case," Mr Demetriou said.

"The AFL believes that our Tribunal, under chairman Brian Collis, is doing a very good job and the AFL will continue to strongly support the complete independence of our Tribunal from the Football Operations department.

"From the meeting, it was resolved that reportable incidents arising out of what the Tribunal finds to be 'off the ball / behind the play' incidents will be subject to increased penalties in the 2004 season.

"Secondly, where a player is found guilty of a first offence of negligent contact with an umpire (but not reckless or intentional contact), and depending on the circumstances, the player's record and the effect on the umpire, a suspension may not be imposed," he said.