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Nicholas Foot is an Australian rules football umpire currently officiating in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was selected to officiate the 2024 AFL Grand Final in his grand final debut. Along with his role as an AFL umpire, Foot features on Get On on Racing.com as part of his employment with online bookmaker Sportsbet.[1]

Umpiring career

Foot began umpiring as a 13-year-old.[2] In 2010, he won the AFL/Australian Sports Commission All-Australian Umpire award. As the winner of this award, he travelled with the Australian Under-18 squad to officiate their games in Italy, Turkey and the United Kingdom.[3][4]

Foot followed up his 2009 grand final appearance with appointments to the 2010 and 2011 Tasmanian State League grand finals. He spent 2011 as an AFL rookie umpire, officiating in matches in the NAB Cup. In 2012, he was elevated to the full AFL list. Foot was selected to umpire his first AFL grand final in 2024 as a field umpire.[2][5][6][7]

In February 2025, the AFL came out in support of Foot, after he was criticised for accepting employment with Sportsbet as a horse racing analyst. A spokesperson stated that if the role involved football in any way, it would not have been approved.[8]

During a match at Adelaide Oval on 12 April 2026 as part of Gather Round, Foot reported Port Adelaide player Zak Butters to the AFL Tribunal, after he allegedly asked “How much are they paying you?” during the club’s loss to St Kilda. Butters denied the allegation, with the AFL stating the exchange was not heard by the umpire’s microphone.[9] At the ensuing tribunal hearing, Foot said “I’m 100 per cent adamant that those are the words Zak Butters said to me. When your integrity is questioned you don’t forget those words that are said to you.” Butters was found guilty and fined $1,500.[10]

References

  1. ^ “‘Nothing to do with football’: AFL backs controversial new role for senior umpire with gambling sponsor”.
  2. ^ a b Bresnehan, James (21 March 2012). “Umpire to take on big boys”. The Mercury. Davies Brothers Pty Ltd. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  3. ^ “Nicholas Foot – Australian Football”. Australian Sports Commission. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  4. ^ “Tassie All Australian Umpire of the Year”. Wrest Point State League. AFL Tasmania. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  5. ^ “Wrest Point State League umpire gets AFL promotion”. Wrest Point State League. AFL Tasmania. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  6. ^ Fair, Alex (21 March 2012). “Umpire wins promotion to AFL list”. The Examiner. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  7. ^ Canning, Connor (16 September 2010). “AFL dream for TSL umpire”. The Mercury. Davies Brothers Pty Ltd. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  8. ^ Pavlou, Anna (19 February 2025). “‘Nothing to do with football’: AFL backs controversial new role for senior umpire with gambling sponsor”. Nine Network. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  9. ^ Da Silva, Chris (13 April 2026). “Zak Butters referred to AFL Tribunal after allegedly asking umpire ‘how much are they paying you?’“. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  10. ^ Bilton, Dean (14 April 2026). “Zak Butters guilty at AFL Tribunal of umpire abuse as Port Adelaide star maintains innocence”. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 April 2026.