 Rod Kafer was angry with the referee after the Saints game |
Saracens coach Rod Kafer has received a six-week touchline ban for verbally abusing two match officials after the game against Northampton last month. The Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel made the ruling after Kafer allegedly abused referee Steve Leyshon and fourth official Wayne Barnes.
Kafer was angry that Leyshon blew the final whistle rather than award his side a penalty under the posts.
Saracens ended up narrowly losing the match at Vicarage Road 22-18.
Kafer is now denied access to the touchline, playing enclosure, tunnel and changing rooms for the length of the ban.
As there are interruptions for the Six Nations and Europe, Kafer will only sit in the stands for the games against Northampton, Gloucester and Leicester.
He was found guilty under rule 5.12 which relates to 'conduct prejudicial to the interests of the union or the game'.
Panel chairman Commodore Jeff Blackett said: "Verbal abuse of officials, even in private, must be prejudicial to the interests of the union and the game.
"However, we have given him credit for being the model of discrepancy in public."
MMIX
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