Australian Rules umpire Leigh Haussen has been suspended after wearing an Osama bin Laden costume to a post-season event, the Australian Football League (AFL) confirmed in a statement.
Haussen dressed as the former Al-Qaeda leader at a gathering for umpires in Melbourne in September, just a day after the AFL Grand Final. The party’s theme was “characters from the 2000s.”
According to the AFL’s statement, Haussen wore the costume, which included a mask, but only briefly before removing it. The league stated that there were no skits or performances during the event.
While Haussen fully cooperated with the AFL’s investigation, the league deemed the costume “inappropriate, offensive, and in poor taste.” As a result, Haussen has been suspended from officiating in the first round of the 2025 AFL season.
In its statement, the AFL included an apology from Haussen.
“I am sorry. I made an error of judgment. I never intended to offend anyone,” Haussen said.
Stephen McBurney, the AFL’s head of umpiring, emphasized that Haussen took responsibility for his choice of costume.
“Leigh understands that his costume was inappropriate,” McBurney said in the AFL’s statement.
“He has reflected on his decision. Leigh has been a valued member of the umpiring group with a spotless record throughout his career, including since joining the AFL umpire list in 2017.
“We will support Leigh as he works to return to umpiring AFL matches after his suspension.”