Monday 26 May 2014 09:14, UK
Queensland Reds captain James Horwill has been fined $2,500 and ordered to apologise after criticising officials in a post-match interview following their defeat to the Melbourne Rebels on May 17.
The Reds suffered a crucial blow in the dying minutes when television match officials handed a penalty to the Rebels following a fracas between Reds forward Ed O'Donoghue and Rebels captain Scott Higginbotham.
Referee Steve Walsh consulted the TMO and replays appeared to confirm the allegation of eye gouging and O'Donoghue was shown a red card, which was later reversed at a judicial hearing.
Rebels full-back Jason Woodward slotted the penalty to claim a 30-27 victory for the Melbourne-based franchise, much to the disappointment of Wallaby international Horwill.
In a televised interview Horwill expressed his frustrations, claiming: "Once again we were robbed by a stupid refereeing decision."
At Monday’s hearing SANZAR judicial officer Nigel Hampton accepted Horwill's guilty plea to one charge of misconduct and said the Australia lock forward's previous clean record was a factor in the punishment.
