Former Leinster head coach Michael Cheika, current head coach of the Waratahs Super 15 side, received a suspended six-month ban today for abusing a cameraman during a recent game against South African team the Sharks.
In his findings SANZAR judicial officer Nigel Hampton said:
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.
Taking into account previous offences by the Heineken Cup winning coach, along with the suspended ban Hampton ordered that Cheika write a letter of apology to the cameraman and cover SANZAR costs of A$6000 for the hearing.
Hampton also said that Cheika's guilty plea was mitigated by accusations made on his behalf regarding the fabrication of evidence by witnesses.
Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
