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Calls to kick Carlton out of AFL finals after umpire injured in 'disgraceful' fan incident

The 'completely unacceptable' incident has angered AFL commentators and fans.

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·5-min read

Carlton have scraped into the AFL finals by the skin of their teeth after Fremantle's loss to Port Adelaide, but the club is dealing with a shocking act of fan violence against an umpire. The Blues suffered a last-gasp loss to St Kilda on Sunday to put their season in jeopardy, but Port saved their blushes by beating the Dockers a few hours later.

It means Carlton survive and finish eighth on the AFL ladder, and will face Brisbane in an elimination final in two weeks' time. But questions have emerged about whether the Blues should be docked competition points and ultimately kicked out of the finals due to the actions of a spectator during Sunday's game.

Carlton players alongside the goal umpire being struck by a water bottle.
Carlton's loss was compounded by a shocking act by a fan towards the goal umpire. Image: Channel 7/Getty

Goal umpire Steven Piperno suffered a nasty cut to his head and had to leave the game after he was struck by a water bottle thrown from the crowd. The incident occurred near the Carlton cheer squad, but according to reports the bottle wasn't thrown from that section of spectators. Tellingly, it occurred after Carlton had been on the wrong side of a lopsided free-kick count in the early stages.

Security guards and police officers could be seen talking to crowd members soon after the incident, seemingly trying to discover who had thrown the bottle. Carlton officials reported the bottle was thrown from the bay of seats next to their cheer squad, and Blues coach Michael Voss implored his club and the league to take action.

"We don't tolerate that. It's not what footy's about," Voss said. "We spend a lot of time around trying to inspire and bring joy, and we want families at our football club.

"We want to create that real safe environment and I reckon we do that really well. We'll continue to reinforce that. It's something that hopefully the AFL follow-up pretty strongly. I know our club will."

Steven Piperno, pictured here receiving medical attention.
Steven Piperno receives medical attention after being struck. (AAP Image/MORGAN HANCOCK)

Officials will use security cameras to try and pinpoint the culprit, who is facing a lifetime ban from the AFL if they are caught. Fans and commentators have condemned the incident, and some are calling for even stronger action to be taken.

There have been some suggestions that Carlton should lose competition points to send a strong message, which we've seen in the past in football leagues around the world. The AFL won't take such a drastic step, as it would mean the Blues would be kicked out of the finals as a result.

Carlton players.
Carlton players look on after their loss to St Kilda. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Carlton finished on 52 points at the end of the regular season - the same as Collingwood but with a better percentage. Any move to strip the Blues of competition points would have seen the Magpies elevated into the finals - an unprecedented step for the AFL and one that the league won't be willing to make.

Fremantle players after their loss to Port Adelaide.
Fremantle's loss to Port Adelaide saw Carlton scrape into the AFL finals. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

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"That is just an absolute disgrace," Commentator Brian Taylor said on Channel 7 at the time. "There is just no room for that anywhere in any of our games."

Richmond champion Jack Reiwoldt said on Fox Footy: “It hasn’t been thrown from the second tier or the third tier, someone’s made an effort to walk down through the cheer squad and throw a bottle at a goal umpire who had absolutely no influence over free kick count. That’s not an excuse in any way whatsoever. It’s a genuine coward’s act.”

While Garry Lyon added: “It’s borderline assault. In one way it makes you realise how well behaved our crowds are, that these are isolated incidents and they will be jumped on, and this coward will be outed and they will never come back to the footy again and he may face worse charges.”

  • Second qualifying final: Port Adelaide v Geelong - Thursday September 5, Adelaide Oval, 7.40pm

  • Second elimination final: Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn - Friday September 6, MCG, 7.40pm

  • First qualifying final: Sydney v GWS - Saturday September 7, SCG, 3.20pm

  • First elimination final: Brisbane Lions v Carlton - Saturday September 7, Gabba, 7.30pm