Newcastle Falcons director of rugby Steve Diamond has been banned for six games due to “wholly unacceptable verbal abuse” of match officials.
A disciplinary panel convened on Friday to review two incidents of abuse from Diamond towards the TMO and match officials following Newcastle’s Premiership fixture at Exeter Chiefs on Saturday March 29 – a game in which Exeter secured a 17-15 win in the final play at Sandy Park.
Sam Hillas KC, independent disciplinary panel chair, said: “Mr Diamond’s behaviour on 29 March was wholly unacceptable: 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.
“Mr Diamond has, quite rightly, apologised to the match officials for his conduct on the day and the panel has made it clear that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated and should not be repeated.
“Mr Diamond accepted that his conduct was prejudicial to the interests of the game.
“The two issues for the panel were, firstly whether the words used towards the TMO amounted to disrespect or verbal abuse of a match official and secondly, whether the circumstances of what happened after the match gave rise to two separate charges. The panel determined that Mr Diamond’s course of conduct should be dealt with as one charge of verbal abuse.
“This offence was charged as a breach of RFU rule 5.12 and, as such, the panel was not bound by the sanctions table. The panel had regard to the entry points for breaches of law 9.28 (match official abuse) as well as the relevant mitigating and aggravating features and determined a ban of six weeks was proportionate in all the circumstances.
“The full judgment will be made available in due course.”
British & Irish Lions tour of Australia on Sky Sports
Watch the Lions tour of Australia live on Sky Sports in 2025
Sky Sports will exclusively show the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, with all three Tests against the Wallabies and six warm-up matches to be shown exclusively live.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Mateřství Helceletovou nabíjí. Nevadí jí málo spánku, velká prsa si užívá
Témata dnešního dílu: O těhotenství a mateřství (3:50)O sportovních kempech a trenérském životě (7:13)O soužití dvou sportovců a manželovi Adamovi (13:54)Nyní je jí osmatřicet a vyhlíží, kdy dodatečně dostane stříbro z halového světového šampionátu z roku 2010 ze štafety. Na individuální zlato z mistrovství Evropy 2012 si musela také počkat. „Medaili mám sice doma, ale bez české hymny to nebylo ono,“ přiznává.Ale než se dostala k překážkám, vyzkoušela spoustu dalších atletických disciplín. Začínala coby dálkařka, poté přešla k víceboji, ten jí však k srdci nepřirostl. „Nešel mi hod oštěpem, bála jsem skákat do výšky. Trpěla jsem,“ líčí. Přes hladkou čtvrtku se tedy postupně propracovala ke své nejoblíbenější - a zároveň nejúspěšnější - disciplíně.Foto: Vlastimil Vacek, PrávoDenisa Helceletová je bývalá atletka, většinu kariéry ale odzávodila pod jménem bývalého manžela. Trochu ji mrzí, že nejvýznamněji se do paměti českých sportovních fanoušků zapsala coby Rosolová, manželka tenisty. „Vlastně ani nevím, proč jsem se po rozvodu s Lukášem […]
„Am Tor zum Himmel“ – Presse feiert Donnarumma und PSG
Paris Saint-Germain hat zum zweiten Mal das Endspiel der Champions League erreicht. Der französische Meister gewann nach dem 1:0-Auswärtssieg im Hinspiel das zweite Duell mit dem FC Arsenal 2:1 (1:0). Im Finale in München wartet nun Inter Mailand.Besonderes Lob von der internationalen Presse bekam PSG-Keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma (26), der gegen die „Gunners“ eine Mega-Leistung zeigte. Die Pressestimmen!Frankreich„L'Equipe“: „Im Finale ohne Zittern. PSG zähmt Arsenal und fordert Inter Mailand im Champions-League-Finale heraus, das Zweite in seiner Geschichte. Geleitet von einem unhaltbaren Halbvolley von Fabian Ruiz, einem präzisen Schuss von Achraf Hakimi und mehreren wundersamen Paraden von Gianluigi Donnarumma fegte PSG am Mittwochabend Arsenal vom Platz (2:1).“„Le Parisien“: „Paris behauptet sich und folgt Inter Mailand ins Finale der Champions League.“„Le Figaro“: „Paris SG verfolgt seinen großen europäischen Traum. Am Ende eines spannenden Spiels qualifizieren sich die Pariser für das zweite Champions-League-Finale ihrer […]
Entenda as dificuldades enfrentadas por John Textor com a Eagle Holding e clubes da rede
Não está fácil a vida de John Textor. Esportivamente, o dono da SAF do Botafogo vê o clube sofrer na tentativa de reencontrar em 2025 o caminho das glórias que teve na temporada passada. Ainda que tenha tenha vencido a partida da última terça-feira, pela Libertadores, o alvinegro ainda não deslanchou sob o comando de Renato Paiva, criticado e pressionado pelos torcedores, embora prestigiado com a diretoria. Também pertencentes à Eagle Holding, empresa que Textor faz investimentos no futebol, o Molenbeek derrapou na reta final da segunda divisão belga e não conseguiu o acesso à elite do futebol do país; e o Lyon-FRA, eliminado com requintes de crueldade da Liga Europa pelo Manchester United, está distante de conseguir uma vaga à Champions League da próxima temporada — o que poderia, inclusive, ajudar os cofres da Eagle com os valores de […]
Cricket ‘less inclusive’ after ECB stance on transgender women
Hampshire's Nancy Harman believes cricket is "less inclusive" after the ECB banned transgender women from female competitions at all levels.The ECB said the policy change was "necessary" after the UK Supreme Court ruled on the status of transgender women under UK equality law on April 16, deciding that the definition of a "woman" and "sex" in the Equality Act 2010 refers to "a biological woman and biological sex" - the sex they were assigned at birth.Trans women were not permitted to take part in the top two tiers of elite women's cricket and The Hundred since the start of this year, but could still compete throughout recreational cricket and up to tier three of the women's game.However, this new ruling confirmed transgender women can no longer play women's cricket at any level with immediate effect."I'm disappointed by the [ECB's] ruling," […]
Chester May Festival headlines Thursday’s action
The Chester May Festival headlines our action on Thursday and we have some interesting racing from Brighton and Auteuil, live on Sky Sports Racing...3.05 Chester - Illinois, Absurde and Al Qareem feature in Ormonde StakesAidan O'Brien won the Ladbrokes Big-Value You Can Bet On Ormonde Stakes last year with Point Lonsdale and looks to do the same with Illinois. In nine starts he has never been out of the first three and got his head in-front on his last start in the Prix Chaudenay at ParisLongchamp. This looks a good starting spot for the St Leger runner-up with Ryan Moore taking the ride. Absurde was last seen bolting up in the Sussex Champion Hurdle and reverts to the flat for the first time since finishing fifth in the Melbourne Cup. He has previous course experience, winning the Chester Stakes, so […]
What was the real reason behind Hamilton’s Ferrari radio jibes?
Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari made headlines for the wrong reasons at the Miami Grand Prix as the seven-time world champion's infuriated radio messages attracted much attention.Running an alternative strategy that put him on a different tyre compound to his team-mate Charles Leclerc, Hamilton became frustrated when he quickly closed on the Monegasque shortly after the race's only round of pit stops and wasn't immediately let through to chase down the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli for sixth. The seven-time world champion sent a series of transmissions expressing his dismay as the pit wall hesitated, rejected and then finally granted his request, by which point Hamilton felt too much life had been taken out of his tyres.His comments included the suggestion that the decision-making amounted to "not good teamwork", while he also referenced a situation during the Chinese Grand Prix when he […]
Related
Mateřství Helceletovou nabíjí. Nevadí jí málo spánku, velká prsa si užívá
Témata dnešního dílu: O těhotenství a mateřství (3:50)O sportovních kempech a trenérském životě (7:13)O soužití dvou sportovců a manželovi Adamovi (13:54)Nyní je jí osmatřicet a vyhlíží, kdy dodatečně dostane stříbro z halového světového šampionátu z roku 2010 ze štafety. Na individuální zlato z mistrovství Evropy 2012 si musela také počkat. „Medaili mám sice doma, ale bez české hymny to nebylo ono,“ přiznává.Ale než se dostala k překážkám, vyzkoušela spoustu dalších atletických disciplín. Začínala coby dálkařka, poté přešla k víceboji, ten jí však k srdci nepřirostl. „Nešel mi hod oštěpem, bála jsem skákat do výšky. Trpěla jsem,“ líčí. Přes hladkou čtvrtku se tedy postupně propracovala ke své nejoblíbenější - a zároveň nejúspěšnější - disciplíně.Foto: Vlastimil Vacek, PrávoDenisa Helceletová je bývalá atletka, většinu kariéry ale odzávodila pod jménem bývalého manžela. Trochu ji mrzí, že nejvýznamněji se do paměti českých sportovních fanoušků zapsala coby Rosolová, manželka tenisty. „Vlastně ani nevím, proč jsem se po rozvodu s Lukášem […]
„Am Tor zum Himmel“ – Presse feiert Donnarumma und PSG
Paris Saint-Germain hat zum zweiten Mal das Endspiel der Champions League erreicht. Der französische Meister gewann nach dem 1:0-Auswärtssieg im Hinspiel das zweite Duell mit dem FC Arsenal 2:1 (1:0). Im Finale in München wartet nun Inter Mailand.Besonderes Lob von der internationalen Presse bekam PSG-Keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma (26), der gegen die „Gunners“ eine Mega-Leistung zeigte. Die Pressestimmen!Frankreich„L'Equipe“: „Im Finale ohne Zittern. PSG zähmt Arsenal und fordert Inter Mailand im Champions-League-Finale heraus, das Zweite in seiner Geschichte. Geleitet von einem unhaltbaren Halbvolley von Fabian Ruiz, einem präzisen Schuss von Achraf Hakimi und mehreren wundersamen Paraden von Gianluigi Donnarumma fegte PSG am Mittwochabend Arsenal vom Platz (2:1).“„Le Parisien“: „Paris behauptet sich und folgt Inter Mailand ins Finale der Champions League.“„Le Figaro“: „Paris SG verfolgt seinen großen europäischen Traum. Am Ende eines spannenden Spiels qualifizieren sich die Pariser für das zweite Champions-League-Finale ihrer […]
Entenda as dificuldades enfrentadas por John Textor com a Eagle Holding e clubes da rede
Não está fácil a vida de John Textor. Esportivamente, o dono da SAF do Botafogo vê o clube sofrer na tentativa de reencontrar em 2025 o caminho das glórias que teve na temporada passada. Ainda que tenha tenha vencido a partida da última terça-feira, pela Libertadores, o alvinegro ainda não deslanchou sob o comando de Renato Paiva, criticado e pressionado pelos torcedores, embora prestigiado com a diretoria. Também pertencentes à Eagle Holding, empresa que Textor faz investimentos no futebol, o Molenbeek derrapou na reta final da segunda divisão belga e não conseguiu o acesso à elite do futebol do país; e o Lyon-FRA, eliminado com requintes de crueldade da Liga Europa pelo Manchester United, está distante de conseguir uma vaga à Champions League da próxima temporada — o que poderia, inclusive, ajudar os cofres da Eagle com os valores de […]
What was the real reason behind Hamilton’s Ferrari radio jibes?
Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari made headlines for the wrong reasons at the Miami Grand Prix as the seven-time world champion's infuriated radio messages attracted much attention.Running an alternative strategy that put him on a different tyre compound to his team-mate Charles Leclerc, Hamilton became frustrated when he quickly closed on the Monegasque shortly after the race's only round of pit stops and wasn't immediately let through to chase down the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli for sixth. The seven-time world champion sent a series of transmissions expressing his dismay as the pit wall hesitated, rejected and then finally granted his request, by which point Hamilton felt too much life had been taken out of his tyres.His comments included the suggestion that the decision-making amounted to "not good teamwork", while he also referenced a situation during the Chinese Grand Prix when he […]
Chester May Festival headlines Thursday’s action
The Chester May Festival headlines our action on Thursday and we have some interesting racing from Brighton and Auteuil, live on Sky Sports Racing...3.05 Chester - Illinois, Absurde and Al Qareem feature in Ormonde StakesAidan O'Brien won the Ladbrokes Big-Value You Can Bet On Ormonde Stakes last year with Point Lonsdale and looks to do the same with Illinois. In nine starts he has never been out of the first three and got his head in-front on his last start in the Prix Chaudenay at ParisLongchamp. This looks a good starting spot for the St Leger runner-up with Ryan Moore taking the ride. Absurde was last seen bolting up in the Sussex Champion Hurdle and reverts to the flat for the first time since finishing fifth in the Melbourne Cup. He has previous course experience, winning the Chester Stakes, so […]
Cricket ‘less inclusive’ after ECB stance on transgender women
Hampshire's Nancy Harman believes cricket is "less inclusive" after the ECB banned transgender women from female competitions at all levels.The ECB said the policy change was "necessary" after the UK Supreme Court ruled on the status of transgender women under UK equality law on April 16, deciding that the definition of a "woman" and "sex" in the Equality Act 2010 refers to "a biological woman and biological sex" - the sex they were assigned at birth.Trans women were not permitted to take part in the top two tiers of elite women's cricket and The Hundred since the start of this year, but could still compete throughout recreational cricket and up to tier three of the women's game.However, this new ruling confirmed transgender women can no longer play women's cricket at any level with immediate effect."I'm disappointed by the [ECB's] ruling," […]
Be the first to leave a comment