AFL General Manager Football Operations Adrian Anderson today said the Essendon Football Club and Essendon coach Matthew Knights had each been sanctioned for a breach of the AFL Player Regulations, following last weekend's Round 15 match against Melbourne at the MCG.
Mr Anderson said the AFL had written to Essendon earlier this week regarding the conduct of Knights, as club coach, for his behaviour towards the umpires at the three-quarter time break of last week's game and for his comments on the umpires as part of his post-match media conference.
The club responded formally yesterday, Tuesday July 13, and Mr Anderson said he also taken into account Knight's public apology and remorse for his behaviour, in determining the AFL's action.
Knights was given a $5000 sanction under AFL Regulation 1.8 (e) for improper behaviour while the club was sanctioned $5000 under AFL Rule 16.2, regarding public comments about umpiring.
Both sanctions have been suspended until the end of the 2011 season.
""To his credit, Matthew has publicly acknowledged that his actions on the day of the game were inappropriate, particularly coming from a senior club leader,"" Mr Anderson said.
""There is a continuing struggle to retain umpires at a community level and therefore the AFL will continue to stress the importance of appropriate behaviour towards officials at all levels of the game.”
