Diamond handed six-game ban for abusing officials
Steve Diamond will not have any matchday involvement with Newcastle Falcons for the rest of the season
- Published
Newcastle Falcons consultant director of rugby Steve Diamond has been handed a six-match ban for abusing match officials by the Rugby Football Union.
The incident occurred at the end of Newcastle's 17-15 defeat away to Exeter Chiefs on 29 March.
Diamond was upset about Exeter's match-winning try in the last minute being awarded and angrily confronted the officials after the game.
But he has been found guilty by a three-person disciplinary panel of conduct "prejudicial towards the interest of the game".
The former Sale Sharks and Worcester Warriors boss will not be involved with his squad on a matchday until an hour after the final whistle for the last five games of this Premiership season and the first friendly before next season.
Diamond appeared before the independent disciplinary panel and admitted the breach of RFU Rule 5.12 - conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game and/or Union.
In summary, Sam Hillas KC, the chair of the disciplinary panel described Diamond's behaviour as "wholly unacceptable".
Hillas said: "The language used was inappropriate, abusive and entirely contrary to rugby's core values.
"There is no place for abuse of match officials and this applies with equal force whether dealing with the professional or community game."
The panel deemed a six-match suspension to be a "proportionate" sanction.
In his post-match interview following the game at Sandy Park, Diamond admitted he was annoyed with the officials, telling BBC Radio Newcastle: "Like the first game up in Newcastle it was a close game - this one was decided by the officials.
"There was a clear act of foul play in the try and I don't know for the life of me why the VAR [video assistant referee] man doesn't have a look at it at least."
Newcastle are bottom of the Premiership and next host Northampton Saints at home on 18 April, before games against Bath and Saracens away, Gloucester at home and Leicester Tigers away on the final day of the campaign.