After badly breaking his leg in the clash with Sebastopol, Panthers senior player Daniel Vasjuta was forced to wait more than two hours for professional help when initial paramedics refused to treat the 21-year-old due to fears for their safety.

AFL Goldfields general manager Rod Ward said he had received nine written statements from witnesses involved in the incident at Melton Recreation Reserve.

“It would be fair to say that their statements are consistent and they acknowledge that a spectator who was not connected to their club did swear at the ambulance officers, but they are categorical that there was no threats of violence,” Ward told The Courier.

“They felt that it was disappointing that the ambulance officers chose to leave and the player’s treatment was delayed for two hours – they felt that was unnecessary.

“Having said that, we weren’t there so I understand and respect that Ambulance Victoria have a different point of view. As an employer myself, I would also share the same view that if any of my employees felt threatened that they have every right to leave.”

Ambulance Victoria executive director emergency operations Mick Stephenson said in a statement last weekend that when the ambulance arrived at the ground, paramedics were verbally threatened and intimidated by a group of people.

Ward said while the evidence collected from his end painted a different picture, AFL Goldfields would be communicating with clubs on how to best meet and greet ambulance officers if they are called to matches.

“The absolute priority here is that any injured party should be receiving the required treatment and that treatment shouldn’t be put at threat or delayed because of the actions or reactions of anyone there,” Ward said.

Vasjuta required surgery after sustaining a dislocated ankle and fractured fibia in the third-quarter incident, which has ruled him out for the remainder of the Panthers’ 2017 season.