MONDAY UPDATE:
Cronulla Sharks brothers Andrew and David Fifita have been banned from Penrith junior rugby league games for 12 months.
The ban come after the pair watched watch an A-grade game between St Josephs and St Marys at Glenwood on Saturday, July 25, where David acted as an on-field trainer and Andrew was a spectator.
It has been alleged that at least one brother threatened the referees with physical abuse.
The ban decision was handed down by a Panthers disciplinary committee on Monday morning, July 27.
The Fifita twins have five days to decide if they will appeal at a full hearing or accept the ban.
The brothers now face code of conduct penalties from Cronulla Sharks and the NRL.
No video footage or photographs of the incident are available because the referee did not film it.
Sharks CEO Lyall Gorman said the allegations were a great concern.
“There is no doubt our players have acted very inappropriately in letting themselves down, their teammates down, letting our club down and more importantly the whole game of rugby league," he said.
NRL CEO Dave Smith said in a statement that there would be serious consequences for any NRL players engaging in physical or verbal abuse or intimidation of match officials.
"The NRL will never prejudge anyone accused of breaches, everyone is entitled to the presumption of innocence,’’ he said.
"But if we become aware of any NRL players abusing match officials, there will be very significant consequences."
SUNDAY STORY:
Cronulla players Andrew and David Fifita have been accused of an incident involving match officials at a Penrith District Junior Rugby League game on Saturday.
Formal complaints have been made against the brothers with Andrew due to play for the Sharks against Canterbury this afternoon.
David was left out of the final squad for the match after Cronulla's captain's run on Saturday.
The pair were on hand to watch an A-grade game between St Josephs and St Marys in Glenwood where David acted as an on-field trainer and Andrew was a spectator.
It has been alleged that at least one of the Fifita brothers threatened the referees with physical abuse.
Sharks CEO Lyall Gorman said at a press conference at Belmore Sports Ground on Sunday before Cronulla's clash with Canterbury that the allegations were a great concern.
“There is no doubt our players have acted very inappropriately in letting themselves down, their teammates down, letting our club down and more importantly the whole game of rugby league," he said.
“There's no doubt that some foul language was directed towards the match official.
“I’ve been emailed a copy of the referees report this morning.
“If the allegations are proven to be correct, we have a zero tolerance to any behaviour that attacks the role of referees at any level of the game."
NRL CEO Dave Smith said in a statement on Sunday that there would be serious consequences for any NRL players engaging in physical or verbal abuse or intimidation of match officials.
"Match officials give up their time because they love the game and the last thing they should be subjected to is abuse or intimidation," Mr Smith said.
"It is even more intolerable if someone with the stature of an NRL player is involved - we want the full facts to be presented in this matter.
"The NRL will never prejudge anyone accused of breaches – everyone is entitled to the presumption of innocence.
"But if we become aware of any NRL players abusing match officials there will be very significant consequences."
