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Australian Rules football is a sport for tough men. Imagine the surprise this week when a player was off not for dangerous conduct, but for a “dangerous haircut”. This to Aussie Rules player Nathan Van Someren playing for his team Simpson in the Australian state of Victoria. Umpire Don Wheadon Mr Van Someren’s spiked mohawk hairstyle could other players and so sent him off the . Van Someren expressed his at the decision, saying: "Before the game the umpire said that I could not play my hair like that. He told me it was dangerous. We all thought that he was [joking]. A few umpires have jokes about my hair before."

Football commentators are confused as to why the umpire sent Van Someren off. The 25-year-old player in the first and second quarters of the match, but in the third the umpire gave him his marching orders. The Simpson team coach also said he could not understand the umpire’s . “You expect players to be sent off for [guys] or abusing umpires, not for their hairstyles,” he said. The Victorian Country Football League later the umpire had not followed the properly. Van Someren has to change his hairstyle, telling reporters: "I don't think I have to. Even if someone has long hair, it could flick someone in the eye. Should they be to cut [their hair] as well?"