Inside the shambolic Zak Butters tribunal process that failed at every step |
Inside the shambolic Zak Butters tribunal process that failed at every step
April 15, 2026 — 12:20pm
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Zak Butters is adamant about what he didn’t say to umpire Nick Foot on Sunday night.
Foot is equally resolute that he heard Butters ask, “How much are they paying you?” as they stood near each other waiting for St Kilda’s Mitch Owens to kick for goal after receiving a dubious free kick in a ruck contest.
Anyone who has been in a relationship for any length of time knows that occasionally what someone thinks they said is heard differently by the person the words are directed towards.
Particularly if the exchange occurs in the heat of battle when both parties are wet and cold and tired and something unfortunate has just occurred.
The best relationships then sort the exchange out in a less charged environment a little bit later, particularly if there has been a misunderstanding.
The worst end up spending a lot of time and money sorting out matters after things moved beyond a point of no return.
Mediation should have happened between the field umpire, Foot, and the player, Butters.
It could have happened immediately after the game when Butters approached Foot, but it’s understandable that the umpire wasn’t ready for that........