Australian Rules footballer sent off for dangerous haircut

An umpire who ordered an Australian Rules football player from the field because his mohawk was considered dangerous had "misinterpreted the rules". Simpson Tigers midfielder Nathan Van Someren says he will appeal his send-off by umpire Don Wheadon during the third quarter of a weekend match against Otway Districts in the Colac and District Football League.



Van Someren was told to leave the field for 15 minutes "because his hair was too dangerous" and might have poked another player in the eye, Tigers co-coach Leigh Walsh told Fairfax.

The decision came as a shock to the 25-year-old who has played with the hair style for three years, and had played during the first and second quarters of the match. VCFL umpiring general manager Gerard Ryan said the Colac umpires' association had acknowledged that a mistake had been made and was working to resolve the matter.


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Mr Ryan said the rule used to get Van Someren off the field referred to items such as jewellery and protective equipment that could injure another player. "In this case it's probably been interpreted a little bit too broadly," he said.