Kane Cornes issues apology after AFL's confusing statements on umpires' handling of Lachie Schultz
The four umpires caught in the Lachie Schultz concussion saga have had apologies from AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon and expert commentator Kane Cornes.
It's emerged that Dillon had a phone hook up on Wednesday with the four field umpires.
On Thursday afternoon, Cornes read a statement on SEN and apologised 'unreservedly' for his comments at the time.
The AFL last month admitted a process 'failed', compounding the debacle around the on-field mishandling of Schultz's concussion.
The Collingwood forward was hurt in the Round 9 win over Fremantle on May 8 in Perth.
The AFL was slammed for bungling an investigation into why Schultz wasn't removed from the field, despite clearly being in trouble following a collision with Fremantle defender Jordan Clark.
AFL football boss Laura Kane eventually took responsibility after becoming aware umpires had actually noticed Schultz was injured.
The AFL initially released a statement saying umpires didn't see Schultz on the ground, but would have stopped play had they realised.
Then, the league sent out another statement, saying there had been an initial miscommunication.
In the midst of the saga, Cornes had made on-air comments accusing the umpires of misleading the AFL.
'I accused field umpires who were officiating that Round 9 match between Fremantle and Collingwood of misleading the AFL, and that they had not seen the incident in which Collingwood's Lachie Schultz suffered a concussion,' Cornes said.
'Now in light of the additional (AFL) statement, which made it clear that the umpires had not misled the AFL, I acknowledge that the allegations made by me on this show were false, and I withdraw them,' Cornes said.
'I understand the umpires truthfully told the AFL that they saw the incident and did not mislead the AFL.
'So I unreservedly apologise.'
There had been speculation that the umpires involved were considering their legal options over the saga but will accept an apology.
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