AFL ticks off controversial racing role for grand final umpire

The AFL has ticked off senior umpire Nick Foot's appointment at betting company Sportsbet and Racing.com program 'Get On' despite operating within blurred lines.

Foot - who was the field umpire in the 2024 AFL Grand Final - has been in the football industry for over 200 matches, revealed his new post at the league's betting partner whilst still holding his position within the AFL.

Amid an ongoing investigation into maligned AFL umpire Michael Pell and his controversial involvement in the 2022 Brownlow medal, the league has come into question for allowing Foot to pursue other endeavours.

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"Nick Foot is one of our best umpires," league CEO Andrew Dillon said at Wednesday's NAB AFL Auskick's 30^th Birthday celebration.

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"Our umpires are incredibly professional, elite decision makers but they also have work outside of umpiring.

"Nick's worked in and around the racing industry for a number of years. We've worked very closely with him on how that plays out.

"(His new role at Sportsbet) has no crossover with umpiring. It's very clearly a racing role and we're comfortable with that.

"He's a talented umpire but he's also talented in many other aspects."

Dillon refuted any crossover between Foot's racing role and the ongoing investigation, saying they are "two completely different things".

"Nick's worked in the racing industry for a number of years and the other matter is outstanding," he added.

"I don't think there's any crossover and there's not a crossover of what Nick's doing outside his employment of umpiring."

Dillon confirmed that Foot sought approval for his new role at Sportsbet.