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'Throwing' umpire on sick leave, says report
AFP
26 January 1999
PERTH, Australia, Jan 26 (AFP) - Ross Emerson, the umpire at the
centre of the bitter controversy over Sri Lankan bowler Muttiah
Muralitharan's action, has been off work for several weeks with what
is believed to be a stress-related illness, it was reported here
Tuesday.
His Perth employer, the ministry of fair trading, confirmed Emerson,
44, had not been at work for a number of weeks and had applied for
worker compensation entitlements, the West Australian reported.
But the report quoted a ministry spokesman as saying Emerson's doctor
believed that officiating in cricket matches was still within his
capability
Emerson, originally from Sydney, New South Wales, has been living and
working in Perth for about 10 years. He is a former policeman whose
wife, Denise, is the sister of now retired Australian fast bowler
Terry Alderman.
Emerson called off-spinner Muralitharan for throwing in the one-day
match against England in Adelaide Saturday.
The paper said Emerson had refused to comment when approached at his
Adelaide Hotel.
``I don't comment on personal matters to anybody,'' Emerson was quoted
as saying.
The Australian Cricket Board also declined to comment.
The report said the chief executive of the ministry of fair trading,
Pat Walker, had declined to comment on the nature of Emerson's
illness, but confirmed that Emerson had filed an application for
workers' compensation.
Walker said: ``Emerson's doctor, while indicating that he is not able
to work, has indicated that he believes that cricketing umpiring is
within his present capabilities.''
Emerson is listed to umpire in the England-Sri Lanka match at the WACA
Ground in Perth Friday.
He has remained in Adelaide for a disciplinary hearing relating to Sri
Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga, who argued heatedly with Emerson
after Saturday's no-balling of Muralitharan.
Play was held up for about 12 minutes as Ranatunga led his players to
the edge of the field.
The hearing, scheduled for Tuesday, has now been delayed to a date to
be determined.
Emerson and fellow umpire Tony McQuillan have charged Ranatunga with
conduct unbecoming of an international player, showing dissent,
intimidating an umpire and using abusive language.
Sri Lankan Cricket Board president Thilanga Sumathipala has said there
could be further tense scenes in Friday's match.
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