Ashley Klein targeted after Warriors’ season ended by Knights
Official had to be protected by security on way off pitch in Auckland
The NRL has threatened to ban fans who peppered referee Ashley Klein with projectiles, with the integrity unit investigating the aftermath of the Eden Park clash.
Vision from after full-time in Newcastle’s 12-10 win over the Warriors on Sunday showed Klein being hit with a set of bottles, cups and rubbish as he walked from the field.
The footage shows Klein having to be protected by security, as fans abused the referee and projectiles rained down on him.
The NRL immediately launched an investigation into potential breaches of their spectators’ code of conduct. An Integrity Unit investigator had been at the ground.
“If found guilty, they will be banned for a period of time from attending NRL games,” ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys told AAP.
Auckland police have since confirmed that no arrests were made, with “no issues to note” other than two pitch invaders.
Sunday’s crowd of 48,511 marked the biggest ever for a rugby league match in New Zealand, after the NRL made the call to move the game from Mt Smart.
The fan abuse came after two contentious calls went against the Warriors late in the match, including a decision not to penalise Tyson Frizell for an escort in the dying minutes.
Warriors great Shaun Johnson criticized at the fan’s response after the match, labelling it “embarrassing”.
“It leaves a bit of a sour taste in your mouth, what has been an unbelievable night with the colours, the energy, the happiness and celebration,” Johnson said on Sky NZ’s coverage. “But there is just no need for it. It’s just embarrassing.
“Ashley Klein has probably refereed the best game of rugby league I have seen in a long time tonight. He didn’t take any gamesmanship in terms of people laying down. He didn’t let people approach him whinging.
“He didn’t make the game about him. He let the players come and play and they dictated the outcome.”
Warriors coach Andrew Webster had vented his frustration in the post-match press conference, highlighting a bunker strip call on Te Maire Martin and the decision not to penalise Frizell for a possible escort on Leka Halasima
“The last one, two points would have drawn the game, he is going across Leka, pretending to try and catch the ball which they’ve told us you can’t do,” Webster said.
The incident comes after AFL umpires also had cans thrown at them while leaving the MCG after Hawthorn’s tight loss to Brisbane in Saturday night’s preliminary final.
The AFL has also condemned the behaviour and warned of minimum five-year bans for any fans found responsible.