Veteran umpire Nick Foot is about to be quizzed.

“I awarded a ruck free kick for a hold of the jumper,” Foot said.

“I ran in to set the mark.

“I entered into a short discussion with player Sweet (as to why a decision was made).”

He said Butters was “one-metre away” at the time of the incident.

“I awarded a 50-metre penalty … and implemented the 50-metre penalty accordingly,” he said.

“I wasn’t looking at him when he said those words.”

Before today’s hearing, Foot has alleged that he heard Butters say “how much are they paying you?” before he paid a 50-metre penalty and reported him for abusive language.

Foot is now explaining the accusation that he made about Butters.

“It questioned my integrity,” Foot said.

“I’m 100 per cent adamant that those are the words that player Butters said to me,” he said.

“When your integrity is questioned … you don’t forget those words.”

When it was put to him that Butters may have said “that’s not a free kick”, Foot said in evidence that he could not recall.

It is also put to Foot that he may have “mis-heard” the words from Butters. The umpire replies: “I strongly disagree.”