Port Adelaide's Zak Butters has been found guilty of abusing an umpire and has been fined $1,500 by the AFL Tribunal. Despite the ruling, Butters continues to assert his innocence regarding the allegations made against him.

Incident Overview

The incident that led to Butters' tribunal appearance occurred during Port Adelaide's recent match against St Kilda at Adelaide Oval. Umpire Nick Foot reported Butters after a contentious moment when a free kick was awarded to St Kilda's Mitch Owens. Following the decision, both Butters and teammate Ollie Wines expressed their discontent, resulting in Butters receiving a 50-meter penalty and being cited for abusive language as Owens scored a goal.

Tribunal Proceedings

During the tribunal hearing, which lasted one hour and 40 minutes, testimony was provided by Foot, Butters, Wines, and Port's football boss Ben Rutten. Foot claimed that Butters directed a comment at him, stating, "How much are they paying you?" However, Butters firmly denied making that remark, asserting that he only questioned the free kick decision. The tribunal panel, consisting of Renee Enbom KC, Jason Johnson, and Darren Gaspar, deliberated for 25 minutes before upholding the charge of abusive language towards an umpire.

Reactions and Statements

After the verdict, Butters expressed his disappointment outside Port Adelaide's headquarters, emphasizing his belief in his own words during the incident. "I'm clearly disappointed with the result tonight," he stated. "I stand by knowing what I said and what I didn't say. Especially what I didn't say." Umpire Foot remained resolute in his account, stating that the comment questioned his integrity and that he would not forget such words. The tribunal's reasoning for the decision is expected to be released on Wednesday morning.