'Drives me mad': Eddie McGuire calls for AFL to make two key changes after Zak Butters tribunal

Eddie McGuire has called for the AFL to introduce full-time professional umpires in the wake of the Zak Butters tribunal hearing.

The tribunal on Tuesday night found Butters guilty of abusive and insulting language towards umpire Nick Foot.

The Port star was accused of asking Foot "how much are they paying you?" after he awarded a free kick. Foot is also a broadcast host and racing analyst for Sportsbet.

READ MORE: Garcia apologises, admits 'regret' over Masters meltdown

READ MORE: Liverpool crash out of Europe, Barca star's dummy spit

READ MORE: Maroons bolter emerges as Slater mulls over big selection

Speaking on Nine's Footy Classified on Tuesday night, McGuire said it was one of two issues the saga highlighted that 'drive him mad'. The other was the AFL's choice of chair to lead the tribunal.

After Butters was found guilty, the tribunal could not provide its reasons for the decision because the deadline for the hearing had been reached and chair Renee Enbom KC had a pre-arranged appointment to attend. The reasons for the decision will be delivered on Wednesday.

McGuire said the AFL should have engaged another KC to ensure the hearing reached its conclusion.

Footy Classified is now available as a podcast! Subscribe/follow via Apple, Spotify or Google Podcasts

"It drives me mad. In a multi-billion dollar business ... get another KC preferably, because this is a massive case," he said.

"This is a case that needed to be finalised. Put it off until tomorrow and get everybody in? Please."

McGuire went on to say the AFL should give umpires the opportunity to become full-time professionals and incorporate them into other areas of the business.

He said he did not believe Foot's Sportsbet ties had any influence on his decision.

"There's been all this talk about umpire Foot working for Sportsbet, which I think became noise afterwards. I don't think it was something he was thinking ... I'd take him on his word on that situation," McGuire said.

"When are we going to go to full-time umpires so they don't have to work at Sportsbet or somewhere else?

"They don't have to all become full-time tomorrow - you can migrate this across if you're a professional and you don't want to give up being a lawyer or whatever, that's fine.

"But I think we're at a stage now where we need to have professional umpires, full-time, who can go through all these different things and do a myriad of other things.

"Umpire Foot is a good presenter - he'd be great working for the AFL explaining what goes on of a weekend, you would think."

Fellow panellist James Hird said Foot was a good umpire and suggested the AFL Review Centre could be a suitable spot for him and other umpires.

Butters was fined $1500, but has steadfastly maintained his innocence. Port Adelaide are expected to appeal the decision on Wednesday afternoon once the reasons have been delivered.