An AFL goal umpire has been subbed out of the action in Carlton’s clash with St Kilda on Sunday after being struck in the back of the head with a water bottle.
Steve Piperno had to come off the ground when blood started pouring from his head as a result of the bottle, which came flying from the direction of the Carlton cheer squad area behind the goals at Marvel Stadium.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Goal umpire struck by water bottle from the crowd.
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Police and Marvel Stadium security are investigating to try to find the culprit.
Channel 7’s commentators were initially confused when Abbey Holmes first alerted them that emergecy umpire Chelsea Roffey had been subbed into the game.
“He’s got claret streaming from the back of his head,” Dale Thomas said.
“Hopefully it’s just a self-inflicted one from a stray flag. Hopefully it isn’t crowd involved.”
That was before vision of the incident emerged, which was taken from goal-line cameras.
In the footage, the water bottle can be seen flying into shot and hitting Piperno in the back of the head.
“Oh no! Well that is just completely unacceptable,” Alister Nicholson said on commentary when the vision was shown.
Brian Taylor added: “And it must have had water in it too, to be able to inflict any sort of cut.
“So, that is just an absolute disgrace, there’s just no room for that anywhere in any of our games, regardless. I know he looks OK, and he’s taken it in good spirits, but there’s quite a lot of blood been drawn out of the back of the scone (head). Not something to make light of.
“That is just nothing short of disgraceful; no wonder they’re sitting quiet behind the goals at the moment.
“I’ll be surprised if there won’t be people down there taking some action very shortly.”
Dale Thomas said “the person who has lobbed that onto the field of play will be found by the cameras”.
“And you’re not welcome back,” Joel Selwood added.
7NEWS Melbourne’s Theo Doropoulos provided an update at half time, saying the bottle did not come from a member of the Carlton cheer squad.
“Steve Piperno was the umpire, you see the water bottle thrown there. It was from the Carlton cheer squad area, but not from the Carlton cheer squad. They sit behind,” he clarified.
“Marvel Stadium security is still looking for the fan who threw the water bottle. The AFL is investigating.
“You can bet your bottom dollar that this is probably the last game of football that whoever threw that bottle will attend. There will be a significant ban coming this person’s way.
“Earlier in the year, a fan was banned for the rest of the season for making contact with a player. Throwing a projectile onto the field and striking an official, it blows the mind that anyone would think this is an acceptable thing to do. Massive ban coming.”
Holmes called the incident “very disturbing”.