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Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has been handed a $5000 suspended fine by the AFL after approaching an emergency umpire during the match against Essendon.

The AFL on Wednesday handed Richmond coach Damien Hardwick a suspended fine of $5000 for abusing an emergency umpire during the round-eight match against Essendon.

Hardwick made the comments during the third quarter of Saturday night's game at the MCG which the Tigers lost by 19 points.

AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said the league had written to Richmond earlier this week, under AFL Rule 29.1, after a report was submitted by the match-day umpires regarding Hardwick's comments.

Anderson said the league had taken into account this was Hardwick's first offence.

The AFL imposed a three-year suspended fine on Hardwick, who made a formal apology.

"Regulations such as these exist because of the need for the AFL competition to set a positive example on conduct towards umpires," Anderson said.

"Abuse towards umpires continues to impact negatively on the recruitment and retention of umpires throughout Australia.

"Damien Hardwick personally acknowledged the comments made and that he regretted doing so, and this was taken into account, while acknowledging umpires must not be subject to such approaches through the course of a game."