David Koch, chairman of Port Adelaide, has characterized the ongoing controversy involving Zak Butters’ interaction with an umpire as a significant “miscommunication.” The matter escalated when Butters was referred to the AFL Tribunal after it was alleged that he asked field umpire Nick Foot, “How much are they paying you?”
In his defense, Koch clarified today that Butters actually inquired, “Why did you pay that free kick?” He expressed the club’s unwavering support for Butters during this dispute, which arose from comments made during their recent match against St Kilda.
According to Koch, the incident, which took place during the third quarter of the match at Adelaide Oval, was a result of a misunderstanding on the field. The Power lost the game by 14 points. Foot’s decision to penalize Butters was reportedly surprising to both him and teammate Ollie Wines, who were seen close to the umpire while St Kilda’s Mitch Owens prepared for a goal attempt.
Koch remarked that Butters was left “stunned” by the decision to report him. He noted that the AFL confirmed the exchange was not captured on the umpire’s microphone, and the matter is now under review by the tribunal.
When asked about the specifics of the conversation, Koch reiterated that Butters’ question was simply, “Why did you pay that free kick?” He emphasized that if this was misinterpreted, it should not fall on Butters. “It’s unfortunate that there is no audio from the umpire’s microphone, but anyone familiar with Zak knows he is a person of strong integrity,” Koch added.
With regard to the umpire’s background, Koch mentioned that Port Adelaide and Butters were unaware of Nick Foot’s connections outside of officiating. “I have no insight into whether the umpire’s background influenced his reaction,” he said. The ABC has reported that Foot continues his role with Sportsbet as a racing analyst, a position he has held since January 2025, while maintaining his responsibilities as an AFL umpire.
Koch acknowledged the challenges faced by umpires and expressed his respect for officials at all levels. “Everyone in the industry is responsible, and this situation is about accountability from both parties,” he stated.
Butters has faced significant fines throughout his career, recently surpassing the $50,000 threshold in financial penalties. However, Koch emphasized that none of these fines were related to disrespectful behavior towards umpires or officials, asserting that Butters has always shown respect for the officials in the game.
