A police officer has been sacked after throwing an object at former Super League referee Ashley Klein.
The incident took place at a Sydney Roosters match at Allianz Stadium in April.
Klein, despite being Australian, started his refereeing career in England, working his way up from the second-division, then known as the Northern Ford Premiership.
He officiated 150 games in Super League between 2003 and 2008 before returning to Australia before the 2009 NRL season, where he has refereed ever since.
He has also refereed Challenge Cup finals and two World Cup finals, including the 2021 World Cup in England, as well as taking the 2012 World Club Challenge match which saw Leeds Rhinos beat Manly.
Most recently, he notably sent off Joseph-Aukuso Sau’aali’i in NRL State of Origin Game One.
QUIZ: Can you name these former players from the Super League era?
Police officer sacked after launching object towards former Super League referee
Credit: Imago Images
A senior police officer is under investigation and his son, also a police officer, has been sacked after bad behaviour while off-duty at a Roosters-Melbourne Storm game, which the home side lost.
A projectile was thrown towards the match officials after the match, which saw multiple contentious decisions.
The officials were not hit by any objects and were unharmed.
A police spokesperson said: “An officer has been issued an infringement notice following an investigation into an incident involving two off duty police officers on Thursday 18 April, at a football match in Moore Park.
“The probationary constable was dismissed from the NSW Police.
“An internal investigation into the incident continues.”
They have been banned from Venues NSW grounds – which include the premier stadiums in New South Wales, such as the home grounds of the Roosters, South Sydney Rabbitohs and Parramatta Eels, as well as Sydney Cricket Ground.
The NRL have also issued ban notices which will forbid them from attending any games in the competition.
A similar incident happened at a Newcastle Knights game a week earlier, but no action could be taken due to insufficient evidence.
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