NRL set to act over 'embarrassing' referee abuse

The NRL integrity unit is investigating the aftermath of Sunday's semifinal in Auckland. Bottles, cups and rubbish were thrown at referee Ashley Klein as he walked from the field after full-time. The NRL has launched an investigation into potential breaches of its spectators' code of conduct. The NRL has threatened to ban spectators who threw projectiles at referee Ashley Klein, with the league's integrity unit investigating the aftermath of Sunday's semifinal in Auckland. Klein had to be protected by security as fans abused the veteran referee and threw projectiles. The NRL immediately launched an investigation into potential breaches of its spectators' code of conduct. An integrity unit investigator had been at the ground. "If found guilty, they [the fans] will be banned for a period of time from attending NRL games," ARL Commission chair Peter V'landys said. Auckland police have since confirmed no arrests were made. They said there were "no issues to note", other than two pitch invaders. Sunday's crowd of 48,511 marked the largest ever for a rugby league match in New Zealand, after the NRL made the call to move the match from Mount Smart Stadium. The spectator abuse came after two contentious calls went against the Warriors late in the match, including a decision not to penalise Tyson Frizell for an escort in the dying minutes. Warriors great Shaun Johnson hit out at the response of spectators after the match, labelling it "embarrassing". "It leaves a bit of a sour taste in your mouth [after] what has been an unbelievable night with the colours, the energy, the happiness and celebration," Johnson said on Sky NZ's coverage. "But there is just no need for it. It's just embarrassing. "Ashley Klein has probably refereed the best game of rugby league I have seen in a long time tonight. "He didn't take any gamesmanship in terms of people laying down. He didn't let people approach him whingeing. "He didn't make the game about him. He let the players come and play and they dictated the outcome." Warriors coach Andrew Webster vented his frustration in the post-match media conference, highlighting a bunker strip call on Te Maire Martin and the decision not to penalise Frizell for a possible escort on Leka Halasima. "The last one, [when] two points would have drawn the game, he [Frizell] is going across Leka, pretending to try and catch the ball, which they've told us you can't do," Webster said. [Image text:] A WITZER 101 you Pott