AFL 2024: Umpire Leigh Haussen banned over Osama bin Laden costume

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.

Leigh Haussen was suspended for the opening game of the 2025 season and will be forced to undergo “education work” after arriving at a private function for field umpires dressed as the former terrorist leader.

The AFL said it had investigated after being made aware of Haussen’s costume for the event held the day after the grand final in a Melbourne restaurant that had the theme “characters from the 2000s”.

“Haussen dressed in a costume as Osama bin Laden. There were no skits involved in the umpires’ event. He changed into costume at the venue and wore a mask for only a short period of time before removing it,” an AFL statement issued on Monday read.

“He co-operated 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.”

The incident comes after six GWS players were handed suspensions and a further seven were fined over offensive costumes and skits performed at the club’s end-of-season function in September.

Giants Cooper Hamilton and Toby McMullin were handed two-game suspensions for dressing as the twin towers and simulating the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Bin Laden was the founder of al-Qaeda, the militant Islamist group that carried out the attacks.

Haussen, who made his AFL field umpire debut in 2017 and presided over four SANFL grand finals from 2010-13, apologised for the dress-up in a statement released by the AFL.

“I am sorry. I made an error of judgment. I never intended to offend anyone.” Haussen said.

AFL umpiring boss Stephen McBurney said Haussen previously had an “unblemished record” and would be encouraged to return to the field next season.

“Leigh understands the inappropriate nature of his costume. He has reflected on that choice,” McBurney said.

“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.”

The AFL said Haussen would address the entire AFL umpiring cohort as part of his “education work” when the group returned for pre-season training later this year.