AFL umpire suspended for dressing as Osama Bin Laden

An AFL umpire has been handed a suspension after admitting to dressing up as notorious terrorist Osama Bin Laden at a grand final week function.

Umpire Leigh Haussen will not be considered for selection in round one of the 2025 men's season after deciding to attend a restaurant dressed as the mastermind of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The theme for the function, held a day after the grand final at the MCG in September, was "characters from the 2000s''.

Haussen changed into costume at the venue and wore a mask of Bin Laden for a short period of time before removing it.

"I am sorry. I made an error of judgment. I never intended to offend anyone," Haussen said.

It is the second costume controversy of the AFL off-season following the infamous GWS "controversial couples" theme that resulted in a raft of fines and suspensions for the Giants players involved.

Haussen will need to address the AFL umpiring group when they return to training.

AFL umpires' boss Stephen McBurney said he believed Haussen made a poor decision, but had owned his actions.

"Leigh understands the inappropriate nature of his costume," McBurney said.

"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."

Source: ESPN