RICHARD KNOWLER
Last updated 17:49, April 6 2016
Ex-whistler Bob Francis has questioned whether Sanzaar should have consulted World Rugby following revelations Gary Gold abused the television match official when the Crusaders played in Durban on March 27.
Francis, a former top New Zealand referee who later joined the selection panel for several World Cups, is of the belief Sharks coach Gold got off lightly when he was fined $15,000 by Sanzaar for breaching the Super Rugby competition rules by approaching and using crude and insulting language towards TMO Johan Greeff on two occasions in the final quarter of the match at King's Park.
The incident wasn't made public until Sanzaar issued a missive 10 days after the game, stating they had completed an investigation and had referred the matter for a hearing in accordance with their disciplinary rules.
Judicial Officer Nigel Hampton QC, via teleconference, found Gold guilty of misconduct, issuing the fine and formally reprimanded him.
Francis believes Gold got off lightly.
Although Gold has since apologised to Greeff, Francis said that wasn't good enough. He asked why the matter wasn't referred to the game's governing body.
"World Rugby have intervened in some extreme cases lately and I think this is a question that probably should have been asked of them," Francis said. "Should they have stepped in over the top of Sanzaar in a case like this?
" It's an absolute disgrace and deserves a severe response from Sanzaar. "
Although Sanzaar has issued fines to coaches in the past, they have been reluctant to suspend them. In 2014 Waratahs coach Michael Cheika copped a suspended six month ban for giving a TV camera operator a spray. It was alleged Cheika approached referee Jaco Peyper during the halftime break last year, but Sanzaar didn't punish him.
This situation, where a coach has approached a TMO during a match, is thought to be the first of its kind since Super Rugby began in 1996.
While there have been incidents involving coaches approaching referees in their changing room or the players' tunnel, it is believed no coaches have been reprimanded from the competition's governing body for leaving their station to abuse the TMO. Yet players, if found guilty of misconduct, go for a skate.
Francis wondered whether it was time for rugby to follow the example of some professional football bodies and issue harsher penalties to coaches.
"This (the Gold incident) is right at the top-end," Francis added. "The TMO's box is out of bounds for coaches and if that has been compromised, then I think we have a major problem.
"This would be a first (a coach going into the TMO's box) in my knowledge for world rugby, and a step too far really. A fine is hardly a reasonable penalty ... It's a pretty soft response. I don't think it is good enough."
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