Monday, August 14, 2006
MEDIA RELEASE
The National Rugby League has issued the Newcastle Club a breach notice for $5,000 following comments by the club’s coach Michael Hagan at a post match press conference in Newcastle last Friday night.
When asked his thoughts in relation to comments alleged to have been made by one of his players to the touch judge the coach replayed:
“I think he’d be entitled to swear at him, wouldn’t you?”
The breach notice has been issued accepting that there is a separate judiciary question still to be determined in relation to a contrary conduct charge against Andrew Johns.
It is on the basis that the coach of a team has publicly endorsed the principle that players are entitled to abuse referees.
“The level of penalty reflects that Michael has both distanced himself from that suggestion since and that he has said that it was not his intention to suggest that referees could be abused,” NRL Chief Executive Mr David Gallop said today.
“But said in the heat of the moment or otherwise it conveyed a message at the time that the game cannot and will not accept.
“It is a fundamental principle of sport that the referees’ decision is to be respected.
“Passion and emotion are parts of our game but they are not an excuse for every action on or off the field.
“Players coaches and referees will all make difficult decisions in matches and at times they will each make mistakes.
“This game has worked hard to support positive community participation and NSW Government based Sports Rage Programmes.
“Like all sports we face a real challenge in recruiting enough referees at junior level even at a time when the number of kids playing the game is increasing.
“Sport can and should set a community example in terms of the need to respect rules and authority.
“We cannot have senior figures such as NRL coaches delivering the message at any time that it is okay to abuse officials.”
Newcastle has five working days in which to respond to the breach notice.
