Cheika gets suspended six-month ban

Waratahs coach Michael Cheika has 48 hours to appeal his suspended six-month ban from coaching. Source: Cameron Spencer / Getty Images

WARATAHS coach Michael Cheika will be suspended from rugby for half-a-year if found guilty of another abuse charge in the next 16 months after being slammed by SANZAR for telling a South African cameraman to "f*** off".

Cheika was hit with a $6000 fine and the suspended ban — active until August 31, 2015 — after SANZAR judicial officer Nigel Hampton found the NSW coach had breached the SANZAR code of conduct in NSW's loss to the Sharks last month.

Cheika plead guilty to the charge of having used "crude, insulting or abusive language or gestures " towards match officials, fans or persons involved in the match; in this instance a camera operator filming the coach as he sat on the sideline at Kings Park.

Despite finding Cheika's behaviour "unprovoked" and "disturbing", Hampton said he was unable to find that Cheika's language was threatening, which would have carried a far weightier penalty.

But he added Cheika's past history of using "foul and abusive language" in Europe and Australia was relevant to his punishment, which could see the Waratahs left without a head coach if he falls foul of SANZAR for abuse again.

Clearly unimpressed with the Waratahs coach, Hampton said he found Cheika's evidence on the Kings Park incident "unconvincing" and also slammed unnamed pro-Cheika backers for alleging his South African accusers had made up their evidence.

Waratahs coach Michael Cheika on the sideline during his altercation with the cameraman. Source: Supplied

"Mr Cheika's admission of guilt and contrition during the hearing is balanced by inappropriate accusations made on his behalf that witnesses fabricated evidence; a notion they rightly recoiled at," Hampton said.

"I do not regard Mr Cheika to be a first-time offender and it would be farcical to disregard other matters over the past nine years, including proven Misconduct allegations from his time as a professional coach in Europe and a warning from SANZAR during the 2013 Super Rugby season.

"This matter bears a number of striking similarities with past instances, particularly the use of foul and abusive language towards those charged with running a match and the propensity of Mr Cheika to behave in this manner is disturbing.

"Given his previous record and the factual findings of the investigation, I regard this as a serious offence and do not see it as a result of any provocation, nor is there any excuse for it."

Cheika was fined close to $30,000 for abusing referees while coaching Stade Francais in 2011, and was warned for by SANZAR last year about similar behaviour.

After a three-hour hearing last week, Hampton delayed giving his judgment until last night. It appears clear Cheika's legal team argued his past record in Europe shouldn't count in a different competition.

Cheika storms up the tunnel after the verbal clash with the cameraman during the Sharks match. Source: Supplied

Hampton said Cheika had attempted to play down the level of abuse made against a cameraman just doing his job.

"In his original account submitted on 8 April, Mr Cheika admitted to 'stern' language on one occasion, but deliberately omitted the specific language he used and I find his claim, in evidence, to have used 'f*** off' only once unconvincing," Hampton found.

"On reviewing all of the evidence, I found that on at least two occasions, Mr Cheika told the cameraman to 'f*** off' in a heated way, with accompanied finger pointing and on at least one other occasion, but in the same heated way, the coach used the word 'f***ing' in talking to the cameraman, either in reference to that person or his equipment, although, on the state of the evidence, I did not find proven that this was a threat, whether to person or to property."

"Respect is a core value of rugby and there must be general deterrents in place to prevent any abuse of match officials and persons charged with running the game. Similarly, I find it appropriate to impose a deterrent that is specific to Mr Cheika given his past record and this present Misconduct.

"This decision sends a clear message that this type of behaviour and the inherent lack of respect it demonstrates is not acceptable and will not be tolerated."

Cheika was ordered to send an apology to the cameraman, and pay SANZAR's costs of $6000.

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