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Cape Town - A SANZAAR Judicial Hearing conducted by Nigel Hampton QC (New Zealand) has found Sharks coach Gary Gold guilty of misconduct under the SANZAAR Code of Conduct following the Sharks v Crusaders match two weekends ago.
Gold admitted a charge of misconduct, which also involved two breaches of the Super Rugby Competition Rules, by engaging with Television Match Official (TMO) Johan Greeff during the second half of the match.
In his finding, Hampton concluded that, by his admission, Gold had approached the TMO on two separate occasions (65th and 71st minutes) and had used crude and insulting language towards the official.
It was found that, by his actions, Gold had clearly breached Super Rugby Competition Rule 3.8 (7) "That no person may engage, or attempt to engage with a TMO during a match about the TMOs officiating in the match."
Hampton also found that Gold’s actions had breached the SANZAAR Code of Conduct Section 8.3 (l) which states: "All persons shall not use crude, insulting or abusive language towards Match Officials."
Hampton confirmed that Gold should be fined A$5 000 for each of the two breaches of Rule 3.8 (7) as permitted under competition rules (a total of A$10 000) and a further A$5 000 for the SANZAAR Code of Conduct breach, of which A$2 500 is to be suspended for a 12 month period.
The total of A$15 000 equates to R170 000.
Gold was formally reprimanded, issued with a warning as to the likely consequences of further unacceptable behavior, and told that any further Code of Conduct breach within 12 months would result in the suspended A$2 500 becoming immediately payable.
He was also ordered to pay SANZAAR’s costs of A$1 000.
Gold has unreservedly apologised for his behavior to the TMO, Johan Greeff, and agreed that this type of behaviour has no place in the game.
