The Mole: Bush footballers go on strike as teammate left 'depressed' by lingering 20-year ban
A group of more than 30 bush footballers have vowed to go on strike indefinitely unless a 20-year ban on an Indigenous player is lifted.
Matt Nean has already served nine years for allegedly man-handling a referee in the 2016 Group 4 grand final in Tamworth - despite vision of the incident appearing to show he barely touched the match official as the two crossed paths.
Nean was originally suspended for 18 weeks and appealed the verdict - and was promptly slapped with the mammoth 20-year ban.
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The talented playmaker was even banned from attending local league matches until recently, which meant he was unable to watch his own sons play.
"The suspension is completely over the top and has broken Matt - he is depressed and his career is in effect over," a source close to Nean told Wide World of Sports.
Matt Nean. Change.org
A legal team has got behind Nean's push to have his suspension overturned and released a statement on Wednesday.
"Mathew Nean has not received any formal communication regarding the outcome of the Group Four meeting," the statement said.
"As a result, the position of the 30 players and officials remains unchanged, and the strike will continue until the matter is formally resolved.
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"While we are fully respecting the process and will allow the committee to complete its deliberations, there remains uncertainty about whether key issues were considered.
"These include how the original penalty escalated from an 18-week offer to a 20-year suspension, why video footage of the incident was not allowed to be presented at the tribunal hearing, and why Mr Nean was refused the opportunity to appeal.
"We remain hopeful that these matters will be addressed and that a fair and compassionate outcome can be reached."
