Referee slapped with ban after dressing up as Osama Bin Laden for party

An Australian Rules Football referee has been banned for dressing up as at a party.

Leigh Haussen is the latest figure from the sport to be punished for their behaviour or choice of fancy dress at post-season celebrations. The official dressed up as the former leader of Al-Qaeda and the mastermind of the 9/11 terrorist attacks at an end-of-season bash.

It's emerged that the theme of the event was 'characters from the 2000s'. The official, who has been an umpire at the top level for eight years, is believed to have changed into his costume at the venue, which included a mask.

The Australian League were reportedly tipped off about Haussen's choice of costume before they punished him. After being banned from the opening round of matches of the next AFL season, Haussen offered a grovelling apology.

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Haussen said: "I am sorry. I made an error of judgement. I never intended to offend anyone."

The AFL also released a statement condemning the costume. They wrote: "The theme for the gathering was 'characters from the 2000s'. [Haussen] changed into costume at the venue and wore a mask for only a short period of time before removing it.

"He cooperated fully with the investigation after the AFL was made aware of the function and apologised for wearing the costume which was inappropriate, offensive and in poor taste.”

Stephen McBurney, who is the head of officiating at the AFL, said: "Leigh understands the inappropriate nature of his costume. He has reflected on that choice.

"Leigh is a valued member of the umpiring group with an unblemished record both throughout his umpiring career and since his elevation to the AFL umpires list in 2017. We will support Leigh to make his return to umpiring AFL football following this suspension."

Haussen's poor choice of fancy dress is the latest controversy to emerge from this year's post-season celebrations. Several players from the Great Western Sydney Giants were handed lenghty bans for their own insensitive costumes and behaviour at their "controversial couples" fancy dress awards do.

The inappropriate behaviour included young players Toby McMullin and Cooper Hamilton being banned for two matches for performing a skit where they simulated the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Josh Fahey was also handed a four-match ban for dressing up as ex-National Rugby League player Jarryd Hayne, who spent time in prison before having rape charges against him dropped. Fahey was also punished for simulating inappropriate acts on a sex doll at the party.

Giants players Joe Fonti and Harvey Thomas were also slapped with two much bans for their costumes and skits, while captain Toby Greene and senior players Lachie Whitfield, Connor Idun, Tom Green, Sam Taylor and Lachie Keefe were all fined $5,000 (£2,542) for not displaying “appropriate levels of leadership" at the function.