GSFL 2023: Lions captain Brayden Parker cops ban after abusing umpire in wake of his team’s loss to the Kangas

Royals captain Brayden Parker has been handed a two-match ban for abusing an umpire in the aftermath of his side’s close loss to North Albany on Saturday. Parker was reported in the round 10 fixture under 22.2.2 (h) for using abusive, insulting and obscene language towards or in relation to an umpire. In the WA Football Commission community football tribunal grading matrix, Parker was handed a three-game ban but with an early guilty plea that was reduced to two games. The incident happened after the final siren of the tense clash at Retravision Stadium. It was reported by the field umpires that Parker used threatening and abusive language towards umpire Caleb Castlehow within five metres. On footage from the post-game Parker can be seen walking towards Castlehow pointing as players began shaking hands. The Lions led for the first three-quarters of the game but were overrun in the final term as the Kangas kicked five goals to two and claimed just their second win of the season. The suspension rules Parker out of playing at this week’s Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Football Championships in Perth. Parker was named in the initial GSFL squad but won’t play a part in the region’s return to the senior competition.