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Newcastle Falcons consultant director of rugby Steve Diamond says the sport’s disciplinary process “is flawed” as he begins a six-match ban against Northampton Saints on Friday.<\/b><\/p>\n
Diamond, 56, was given the suspension<\/a> for abusing match officials at the end of a 17-15 defeat<\/a> at Exeter Chiefs on 29 March.<\/p>\n He was upset about Exeter’s match-winning try in the last minute being awarded and angrily confronted the officials after the game.<\/p>\n Diamond admitted the charge, describing the incident as a “huge mistake”, but says more experienced officials may be needed.<\/p>\n He said: “There’s a problem with the disciplinary system, not a problem with the referees. There’s only people like me prepared to say things about it, but it’s not the first time these things have happened.<\/p>\n “I’ve got a six-week ban for saying an inappropriate comment – which I’ve apologised for – to a professional referee in complete privacy.<\/p>\n “If the ref can’t pick it up, because he can’t see everything and the assistant can’t see everything, surely for goodness sake the TMO [television match official] should be seeing these things?<\/p>\n “The system is flawed. Maybe they need some more investment and more experienced people doing these jobs.<\/p>\n “There’s no accountability. We understand we have to have regulation and understand I can’t say what I said, but there’s got to be some accountability otherwise people keep making mistakes.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n