Brumbies forwards coach Dan McKellar has been sanctioned by SANZAAR for remarks made about referee Angus Gardner, who officiated in the Aussie side’s quarter-final loss to the Highlanders in Canberra over a week ago.
SANZAAR have stung McKellar with a $10,000 fine, half of which is suspended, for the use of crude, insulting or abusive language towards a match official.
While Stephen Larkham went on the record with his comments about the referee (to our very own Brett McKay, of all people!), there has been no indication as to what McKellar said given by SANZAAR.
Judging by the severity of the fine, it’s probably safe to guess it wasn’t complimentary.
You can read SANZAAR’s release and make your own judgment.
The full SANZAAR statement reads as follows:
A SANZAAR Judicial Hearing conducted by Terry Willis (Australia) has found the Brumbies Assistant Coach, Dan McKellar, guilty of Misconduct under the SANZAAR Code of Conduct following the Brumbies v Highlanders match on 22 July 2016.
In his finding Mr Willis concluded that, by his own admission, Mr McKellar had used crude and insulting language toward the Match Referee and as such had breached the SANZAAR Code of Conduct Sections 8.3 (k) and 8.3 (l) which states: “All persons shall not use crude, insulting or abusive language towards Match Officials.”
Mr Willis confirmed that Mr McKellar should be fined AUS$10,000 for the SANZAAR Code of Conduct breach, of which AUS$5,000 is to be suspended for a 12 month period.
Mr McKellar was also formally reprimanded and issued with a warning as to the likely consequences of further unacceptable behaviour and told that any further Code of Conduct breach within 12 months would result in the suspended AUS$5,000 becoming immediately payable.
Mr McKellar has unreservedly apologised for his behaviour to the Match Referee Angus Gardner and agreed that this type of behaviour has no place in the game.
The Judicial Officer directed that, save for the SANZAAR Chief Executive Officer responding to the media in terms consistent with this media release, no person involved in the proceedings will make any further comment in respect of this matter.
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