The umpire on the centre of the Brownlow Medal betting scandal has been dumped by the AFL, which has dominated out adjustments to the voting course of for the celebrated award.
Former area umpire Michael Pell was considered one of 4 males arrested final month over suspicious betting exercise, having allegedly leaked votes on particular matches this yr.
It led to widespread requires voting rights to be taken away from umpires, which have been rejected by AFL chief govt Gillon McLachlan on Thursday.
‘The Brownlow voting will keep precisely the identical,’ McLachlan instructed reporters.
‘All of the strategies I’ve heard, it isn’t that they are not worthy, however they would not have handled this concern.
Area umpire Michael Pell (pictured) was considered one of 4 males arrested final month on account of an investigation into suspicious betting exercise
It is alleged umpire votes on the 2022 Brownlow Medal (received by Carlton’s Patrick Cripps, pictured) have been leaked
‘In the long run, the allegations go to the non-public integrity of a person.
‘In some unspecified time in the future, proper by way of each system, somebody has to decide after they have info that, in the event that they’re compromised, can result in points like we have allegedly received right here.’
The AFL knowledgeable umpires this week that Pell has been faraway from the umpiring panel, with a substitute to be appointed over summer time.
‘There is no such thing as a employment relationship between the AFL and the umpire on the centre of the allegations,’ McLachlan mentioned.
‘The broader penalties are actually with the police as a result of it is a legal matter.’
The umpires award Brownlow votes on a 3-2-1 foundation after every sport and there’s tight safety round these particulars till McLachlan reads them out on Brownlow evening.
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan (pictured) introduced voting on footy’s highest particular person honour ‘will keep precisely the identical’ regardless of the police investigation
McLachlan, who intends to depart his CEO put up in April, is adamant the integrity of the league’s best-and-fairest award stays intact.
‘There’s harm attributable to that scandal and I feel the umpires have been hurting however I do not assume the integrity of the Brownlow is compromised in any approach,’ McLachlan mentioned.
‘There was not any manipulation of the votes … it was a difficulty of private integrity, allegedly. We have to see how that performs out.
‘The allegations have wounded the umpires personally and I really feel for them, however I do not assume it bleeds into the Brownlow (itself).’
The betting scandal has threatened to take the shine off Carlton captain Patrick Cripps’ triumph this yr, however the sensible midfielder is unfazed.
‘It had nothing actually to do with me. It was extra of a private type of integrity concern,’ Cripps mentioned.
‘I do know there was a good bit of noise round it however actually learn into it in any respect.’
