A footy player who was banned for 20 years for touching a referee has had his ban overturned after a decade away from the sport.
Matt Nean was sent off when he allegedly man handled a referee during a rugby league 2016 Group 4 grand final playing for West Tamworth.
Footage of the incident clearly shows the 36-year-old barely brushing past the official before being sent off.
That initially carried an 18-week suspension with it, something he was unwilling to accept as he appealed the verdict.
Instead of seeing a reduced punishment, he was slapped with a huge 20-year ban.
Speaking shortly after receiving his decades-long ban, Nean revealed he was initially shocked by the result and thought the whole incident was a joke.
Matt Nean was slapped with a 20-year ban after making contact with a referee
He was initially sent off for what was described as man handling the official, though footage showed him barely brushing past the referee
Nean has had his ban uplifted after serving a decade away from the sport
‘I was devastated but in shock as well, I thought they were joking around with me.
‘I don’t know why they had it in for me, on a footy field I love a bit of banter, I am a bit cheeky on the field, people give it back to me and I know it’s just the love of the game.
‘That’s what you do, and after the whistle is blown it stays on the field.’
He also revealed that the tribunal refused to review the footage, and was denied an appeal.
‘One of my teammates brought his laptop for the evidence and they said “no you can’t use that’ it’s not yours.’
Nean has now lost the majority of his career with the ban coming at the peak of his powers as a rugby league player.
But he will now make his return to the field shortly for the Dungowan Cowboys, after having his ban overturned by the NSW Rugby League.
‘I can’t believe it – I’m free to play again after so long,’ Nean told nine.com.au as he opened up on his mixed feelings about being reinstated.
‘It’s been a long time in the making – I can’t wait to get back onto the field.
‘I just kept getting blocked out, and finally, they listened to our appeal.
‘I’ve had a lot of ups and downs – there is no anger – it’s just one of those things that happen in life.
‘I’m looking forwards, not back.’
‘He wasn’t even allowed to attend junior games and see his son play or go to watch the Aboriginal knockout so it is a great relief,’ a source close to Nean told nine.com.au.
‘Video of the incident shows he just brushed the referee accidentally – but he wasn’t allowed to use the video in his hearing or his appeal.
‘It was a gross miscarriage of justice and we are just grateful it has been rectified – albeit much too late.’
At the time of the ban Nean said he suffered from depression having been banned from the game in totality.
‘Depression, football means everything to me,’ he said.
It may have been a decade too late, but Nean will finally be allowed to step foot on a footy field again with a great injustice finally overturned.
