Ferrer Might Be Fined For Pushing Line Judge

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 22nd January 2014

Ferrer Might Be Fined For Pushing Line Judge

epa04033943 David Ferrer of Spain returns the ball to Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during their quarter final match of the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 21 January 2014. EPA/JOE CASTRO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Australian Open referee Wayne McKewen and fellow officials are still debating whether to hit David Ferrer with a retrospective $Aus 20,000 fine for pushing a line judge on his way to suffering a 6-1, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 defeat at the hands of seventh seed Tomas Berdych.

At the time of going to press with this report, no decision had been made and judgment was expected to be delayed until tomorrow (Thursday). Umpire Emmanuel Joseph of France did not notice the incident, where a clearly frustrated Ferrer pushed the line judge away from his chair to gather his towel.

However television footage clearly shows contact was made and it is being used in the deliberations taking place in the referee’s office. ESPN commentator Patrick McEnroe, who was calling the match, maintained third seeded Ferrer ”should have got a code violation”.

Following the incident there was also an outcry on social media, demanding some sort of action be taken against the player. And many insisted Ferrer did not perform in a sportsmanlike manner throughout the three hours four minutes encounter.

The 2014 version of the Grand Slam rule-book, states under the physical abuse section, ”players shall not at any time physically abuse any official, opponent, spectator or other person within the precincts of the tournament site. Violation of this section shall subject a player to a fine up to $20,000 for each violation”.

In the rule-book, physical abuse is described as ”unauthorized touching of an official, opponent, spectator or other person”. The evidence on video shows this is certainly the case as the line judge is pushed 3-4 feet away from his original position.

Ferrer, aged 31 and not normally a player who gets involved in any form of on-court controversy, was insistent he did not mean to show the line judge any form of malice. “It was nothing,” said the Spaniard. ”I have the towel there. It was nervous moment, but nothing. I say to him, excuse me after that. Nothing special.”

Topics: 10sballs, Australian Open, David Ferrer, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Tomas Berdych