The Australian Rugby League Commission has today issued the Canberra Raiders with a $10,000 breach notice over comments coach David Furner made during Sunday’s post-match media conference.
The breach notice follows comments Mr Furner made questioning the impartiality of the referees, specifically: “I don’t think anyone expected us to come here and win, and maybe not them.”
The NRL has clear guidelines in relation to coaches commenting on referees that allow every opportunity to question and even criticise individual decisions or a general refereeing performance.
These guidelines, however, do not permit coaches, officials, or players to question the integrity of a referee or accuse officials of bias.
“Coaches have the right to criticise a referee’s performance and to express their views but questioning a match official’s integrity is unacceptable,” ARL Commission General Manager of Football Operations, Mr Nathan McGuirk, said today.
“There was a clear inference in Mr Furner’s comments that the match officials had a pre-determined view of the result of the game.”
The Raiders will have five business days from the receipt of the breach notice in which to respond.
