HAWTHORN has been fined for a breach of the League's player regulations, following coach Alastair Clarkson's criticism of the umpires during his post-match media conference on Friday night.

AFL acting football operations manager Jill Lindsay confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that the League had written to the Hawks early in the week, highlighting that public comments on umpires were prohibited under regulation 16.1, and the club formally replied on Tuesday.

However, it was decided that Clarkson's comments warranted a $5000 sanction.

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

It was Clarkson's reference to umpire Justin Schmitt after the Hawks' 11-point loss to Geelong which earned the scrutiny of the League.

"He's a good player that number 17, wasn't he? He's a ripper," he said when asked about the umpiring in the game.

But Clarkson's fine has angered Hawks president Jeff Kennett, who said the penalty had the potential to over-sanitise the game.

"I am absolutely astonished, I saw Clarko's comments and he said it with a great grin all over his face," Kennett told the Nine Network.

"I can only suspect that if we're not careful that we are going to end up with a very antiseptic game."