Despite the huge presence of social media and his position as an official for a top sports division, one referee thought it was a good idea to dress as Osama Bin Laden

AFL umpire Leigh Haussen has been banned from officiating the opening round of the 2025 season, after he dressed up as terrorist leader Osama bin Laden at an end-of-year umpires event.

The AFL has been engulfed in yet another dress-up scandal with an experienced field umpire suspended for dressing as Osama bin Laden at an officials’ end-of-season function.

MELBOURNE - Australian Rules umpire Leigh Haussen has been banned from officiating in the opening round of next season because he wore an Osama bin Laden costume at a function, the Australian Football League said on Monday.

An AFL umpire has been handed a suspension after admitting to dressing up as notorious terrorist Osama Bin Laden at a grand final week function.

An AFL umpire who dressed as Osama bin Laden at an end-of-season function the day after this year’s grand final is banned from officiating in the opening round of next season.Leigh Haussen dressed in a costume depicting the former al-Qaeda leader – who claimed responsibility for the September 11 terrorist attacks – as part of a “characters from the 2000s” theme at a field umpires’ function in a private room at a Melbourne restaurant on September 29.

AFL field umpire Leigh Haussen will not be eligible to officiate the first round of the 2025 AFL season after he dressed as Osama bin Laden at an end of season event.