Controversial AFL commentator Kane Cornes has issued an apology to the four umpires involved in the Lachie Shultz concussion saga, amid reports that the whistle blowers were considering legal action.

The football commentator made comments regarding the Collingwood player’s concussion against Fremantle three weeks ago on Channel 7’s program The Agenda Setters, alongside colleagues Luke Hodge and Dale Thomas.

Channel Nine’s Tom Morris reported that the umpires had enlisted a high-profile defamation lawyer and were considering legal action, stating that the commentators spread false accusations that the officials misled the AFL.

Cornes, who has taken a few days off this week, appeared on SEN on Thursday night to withdraw the comments and make an apology.

“I accused field umpires who were officiating that round 9 match between Fremantle and Collingwood of misleading the AFL and that they had not seen the incident in which Collingwood’s Lachie Schultz suffered a concussion,” he said.

“I made some of those comments having seen two initial statements made by the AFL with regards to the matter on Friday May the 9th, and then also on Tuesday May the 13th.

“And further comments after seeing the additional statement made by the AFL readdressing their initial statements.

“Now, in light of the additional statement which made it clear the umpires had not misled the AFL, I acknowledge that the allegations made by me on this show were false and I withdraw them.

(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

“I understand the umpires truthfully told the AFL they saw the incident and they did not mislead the AFL, and so I unreservedly apologise to Simon Meredith, Craig Fleer, Justin Power and Martin Rodger for making these false allegations.”

Both Hodge and Thomas are also expected to apologise in the coming days,

The episode from May 13 had been removed from Channel 7’s app and from the network’s social media platforms, and comes after the AFL Umpires Association called for a recall of the comments made on the Agenda Setters.

“The umpires involved in the Fremantle vs Collingwood game have been advised as to their legal rights in relation to some of the commentary that followed the Lachlan Schultz concussion issue,” AFLUA chief executive Rob Kerr said.

“Being falsely accused of lying and misleading the AFL goes beyond simply questioning the management of the actual incident.

“Public commentary that casts aspersions on an individual’s integrity and professional competence, particularly when that is core to the role they perform, harms their personal and professional standing and it is reasonable to consider how that can be rectified.”