Australian rules rootball referee Leigh Haussen will miss the first round of the 2025 season after dressing up as Osama Bin Laden at a party.
This incident marks the latest in a series of punishments handed out to figures who misbehaved at an end-of-season fancy dress party. Haussen, who has served as a top-level umpire for the Australian Football League (AFL) for eight years, donned the attire of the former Al-Qaeda leader at an end-of-season event.
The theme of the gathering was reportedly ‘characters from the 2000s’, and it’s believed that Haussen changed into his controversial costume, which included a mask, at the venue. The Australian Football League (AFL) were tipped off about Haussen’s inappropriate outfit choice and subsequently issued a punishment.
Following his ban from the opening round of matches of the next AFL season, Haussen said: “I am sorry. I made an error of judgement. I never intended to offend anyone.”
The AFL also issued a statement condemning Haussen’s costume choice. They wrote: “The theme for the gathering was ‘characters from the 2000s’. [Haussen] changed into costume at the venue and wore a mask for only a short period of time before removing it.
“He cooperated fully with the investigation after the AFL was made aware of the function and apologised for wearing the costume which was inappropriate, offensive and in poor taste.”
(Image: Getty)
Stephen McBurney, the head of officiating at AFL, said: “Leigh understands the inappropriate nature of his costume. He has reflected on that choice.
“Leigh is a valued member of the umpiring group with an unblemished record both throughout his umpiring career and since his elevation to the AFL umpires list in 2017. We will support Leigh to make his return to umpiring AFL football following this suspension.”
Haussen’s outfit is the latest scandal to emerge from the sport’s end-of-season parties. AFL side Great Western Sydney Giants, saw many of their players be hit with bans after their ‘controversial couples’ party.
(Image: Getty Images)
Giants star Josh Fahey was handed a four-game ban for some disturbing behaviour towards a sex doll, while he also dressed up as ex-rugby league star Jarryd Hayne, who served prison time before seeing rape charges against him be dropped.
His team-mates Toby McMullin and Cooper Hamilton were also banned for two matches for doing a skit that mocked the 9/11 terror attacks. Joe Fonti and Harvey Thomas also copped two-match bans for their behaviour and costumes.
Giants captain Toby Greene and senior players Lachie Whitfield, Connor Idun, Tom Green, Sam Taylor and Lachie Keefe were all slapped with a hefty $5,000 (£2,542) fine each for failing to show “appropriate levels of leadership” during the shindig.