Port Adelaide superstar Zak Butters has been fined $1500 after the charge of abusive and insulting language toward umpire Nick Foot was upheld.

Butters faced the Tribunal on Tuesday to fight the alleged sledge stemming from an incident where he disputed a free kick in Sunday’s loss to St Kilda.

In a hearing that lasted more than two hours, the umpire alleged Butters said “how much are they paying you?”, while the Power midfielder argued his words were “surely that’s not a free kick”.

Foot said he was “100 per cent adamant” of what he heard.

“It questioned my integrity,” said the umpire, who had never previously reported a player for abusive language across a 15-year AFL career.

“When your integrity is questioned, you don’t forget those words that are said to you.”

When it was suggested by Port Adelaide’s legal representative that Foot may have misheard the comment, which was not picked up on his microphone despite a gap of just 1m between the pair, the umpire replied: “I strongly disagree”.

“It was loud enough for me to hear crystal clear,” Foot said.

Butters made a defiant statement to the media after the hearing.

“I’m incredibly disappointed with the result tonight. I stand by knowing what I said and what I didn’t say, especially what I didn’t say,” he said.

“I’d like to thank the club for their support.”

He did not answer when asked if he would appeal the decision.

Butters’ recollection of his comment changed slightly from what he had explained in a post-game interview on Seven, which had been “how is that a free kick?”

The acting Port Adelaide captain said he had approached Power football manager Ben Rutten immediately after his interview and used the wording he gave in evidence as his recollection of what he said.

But Butters was steadfast that he never made the comment being alleged by the umpire, saying he was “100 per cent sure”.

“It hurts me because I know I didn’t say it,” Butters said.

The player said he had no awareness of Foot’s outside employment with bookmaker Sportsbet.

AFL Tribunal chair Renee Enbom KC is set to provide reasons for the decision on Wednesday after running out of time to beat the 5.45pm (EST) deadline on Tuesday.

Butters’ long-time Power teammate Ollie Wines also gave evidence after being the closest player to the incident, with Rutten also called upon.

Butters had entered the hearing wearing a black T-shirt with the word “Listen” written on it.