Hopoate accused of abusing officials - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Hopoate accused of abusing officials

By Adrian Proszenko 13/09/2005 07:23:13 PM Comments (0)

NRL bad boy John Hopoate will have a week to respond to allegations he threatened and abused junior match officials while acting as waterboy during his son's under-13 rugby league match.

Hopoate could be banned from all rugby league sidelines after he was banished from the field by a referee for allegedly using abusive language and challenging a touch judge to meet him after the match.

The NSWRL received reports from the referee and touch judge involved in the semi-final between Manly Cove and the Western City Tigers in the Coca-Cola Cup, which have been passed onto Hopoate via the Manly junior rugby league.

NSWRL chief executive Geoff Carr said Hopoate would have an opportunity to respond to the claims before next Tuesday's NSWRL board meeting.

"The process is we have got a report from the touch judge and referee that were in control of those games," Carr said.

"We have now written to the Manly junior rugby league and we've asked them to pass onto the club and Hopoate the reports from the touch judge and referee.

"The club and Hopoate have an opportunity to respond to those and the board of the NSWRL will meet next Tuesday, which will be an opportune time because it allows Hopoate and his club to answer any allegations."

Darren Morrisby, coach of the Tigers U-13 team, said the former Manly winger's behaviour was totally inappropriate.

"(He was) swearing at them, giving them a bit of a bagging for decisions he thought was against him," Morrisby told Channel 10 news.

"There's no need for that, not when you've got the kids."

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