Awkward moment as AFL umpire sprays colleague during game

AFL umpire Ray Chamberlain is no stranger to a little bit of controversy, bit this was an unusual moment even for him.

Chamberlain was officiating Saturday night’s match between Sydney and North Melbourne when tempers flared between the two teams in the final quarter.

Fellow umpire John Howorth stepped in to break up the push-and-shove, but Chamberlain was more interested in getting the game back on track.

After the ball was thrown in to resume play, Chamberlain could be heard screaming at his colleague to get back into the play, as it were.

“Get back and umpire the game, John,” Chamberlain said.

“John Howorth, get in the game!”

Chamberlain has often been criticised for his vocal umpiring style, including by AFL great Garry Lyon, who said the umpire should be pulled into line by the AFL.

Lyon said Chamberlain involved himself in games too much by seemingly talking to players one-on-one.

“Why does Ray Chamberlain think he can stop a game of football and go over to a player and give him one-on-one feedback?” Lyon said on SEN Breakfast.

“While the rest of the game just stops, everyone else go and look after yourselves, I just want to have a chat with this person.

“The umpire boss should pull Ray aside and say: ‘Ray, we’re trying to keep the game moving, we’re not trying to stop it’.”

For his part, Chamberlain has been vocal in his defence of the umpiring fraternity in the face of increased scrutiny this season.

In an appearance on SEN’s Whateley earlier in May, Chamberlain acknowledge the umpires have issues, but said it was unfair to expect umpires to be perfect.

“I always find it humorous when people have got passionate positions on AFL umpires,” he said.

“I’ve been in the game for 15 years, and I work really hard.

“I’m not the most talented guy, but I turn up first, I’m the last to go and I really work hard, I really enjoy it and I love it.

“In that 15 years, a lot of these people who have comments about umpiring, I’ve never seen them there once.

“Where is the informed position coming from in terms of making these comments?”