SWFL 2023: Collie Eagles’ Billy Bebbington handed three-year, eight-match suspension for umpire abuse

A South West footballer has been handed a three-year and eight match ban after he was found guilty of multiple umpire abuse charges. Collie Eagles’ Billy Bebbington was handed the lengthy suspension period by the South West Football League’s tribunal on Tuesday night after he was previously reported for using abusive, insulting or obscene language towards an umpire and deliberately making contact with an umpire. Because the suspension handed down exceeded 16 matches, Bebbington has been deregistered as a player. During the third quarter of the Eagles’ 16.13 (109) to 5.7 (37) loss to Carey Park on Saturday, Bebbington initially received a yellow card from field umpire Cameron Valenti, after engaging in a push and shove incident following a tackle against a Panthers opponent. However, as Bebbington was making his way towards the Collie interchange to spend 15 minutes on the bench, it is understood he made a comment which prompted Valenti to then issue a red card. Upon b“These incidents make it very difficult to recruit and retain umpires,”eing issued the red card, Bebbington returned to Valenti, making contact with him with his chest, before eventually leaving the field. As Bebbington walked towards the changeroom, he could be heard threatening Valenti, allegedly telling him to “wait until after the game, I’ll f...... knock you out”. Immediately after the comment was made, Valenti urged Collie coach Kade East and club officials to have Bebbington escorted from the ground, out of concern for his own safety. Following the match, East apologised to Valenti for Bebbington’s conduct. In a written statement, a SWFL spokesperson outlined the severity of Bebbington’s offences. “These incidents make it very difficult to recruit and retain umpires,” it said. “The football community needs to understand that any form of umpire abuse is unacceptable and needs to start calling it out if they witness poor behaviour towards an umpire.” Bebbington, who made his league debut for the Eagles in 2019, played nine league games this season and had become a regular in the league team over the years due to solid form at colts level.