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Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
NRL grand final hero faces long ban for alleged heated incident with a referee during a footy match
An NRL Grand Final hero has landed in hot water after he allegedly swore at a referee during a footy match. Andrew Fifita was playing for De La Salle during a clash against the Gymea Gorillas last weekend when the incident took place. Fifita made 213 appearances for Cronulla Sharks and was a part of the team that won their maiden premiership title in 2016, notably scoring a try that led to the game-winning conversion. According to The Daily Telegraph, the 36-year-old is alleged to have called a referee a '****' during the first half of the match. He is now facing a five-match suspension over the matter, having been slapped with a Grade Two offensive language charge. 'He has pleaded not guilty and will face a judiciary hearing tomorrow night,' an NSWRL spokesperson said. Fifita, pictured with his wife Nikitia, denied that he had directed the comment toward the referee 'The NSWRL will make no further comment until the judicial matter is complete.' It also now means that Cronulla will be under the spotlight to sack the former footy star, should he be found guilty, who is the coach of their Tarsha Gale women's junior representative side. The prop forward is also employed by the Sharks as part of its culture and welfare team. 'It's an awkward situation because of his profile and the coaching position,' sources close to the club said to Nine's Wide World of Sports. Cronulla executive Dino Mezzatesta revealed that he has spoken with Fifita about the incident, with the forward insisting that he had not made the alleged comment towards the referee. 'Andrew was sent off for swearing, but he has advised the club he didn't direct it at the referee it was directed at an opposing player, who has also confirmed that the comment was directed at him,' Mezzatesta said. 'He has also acknowledged that the language was inappropriate all the same. 'Andrew is waiting for a date from NSWRL for his hearing, where he will be contesting the charge. 'The Cronulla Sharks will wait for this process to be completed.' It's not the first time that the footy player has found himself in front of a rugby league tribunal after he and his brother, David, were once stood down from playing junior rugby league games in Penrith for 12 months. Fifita had been accused of physically threatening a referee, following a match between Penrith Juniors and St Patricks in 2015. His brother, David, was also accused of swearing at the referee, telling the official 'you're a f***ing disgrace mate.'
News.com.au
7 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Former Sharks star Andrew Fifita facing season-ending suspension for alleged vile ref spray
Former Sharks star Andrew Fifita is facing a season-ending suspension after being sent off for swearing at a referee during an A-grade park football game. The Daily Telegraph reported Fifita has been charged for calling a referee a 'c …' while playing for De La Salle in the first half of a game against the Gymea Gorillas. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer > Fifita is facing a five-week suspension, which if found guilty at the judiciary would rub him out for the season as there are only three rounds left before the A-grade finals. Fifita is reportedly denying the allegation and maintains his comment was directed at an opposition player rather than the referee. It is an awkward situation for the Cronulla Sharks, who employ Fifita in their culture and welfare department. He is also the coach of the club's Tarsha Gale women's junior representative side. It is not the first time Fifita has been in hot water this season after multiple sin bins. The 36-year-old was also involved in a racial dispute in The Central Coast junior rugby league last year. And in 2015 he and his brother David were banned for 12 months from Penrith juniors for saying to a referee 'you're a f****** disgrace mate' after a game. Fifita played 251 NRL games for the Wests Tigers and the Sharks before retiring in 2022. De La Salle club president and Sharks board member Dave Nicholson spoke to The Daily Telegraph earlier this year about Fifita playing in park football. 'He'll be good around the younger boys,' Nicholson said. 'He brings a really good work ethic. It's not about money but more about him wanting to put back into junior footy.'
