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Salford’s Gareth Hock banned for seven matches after knocking over referee Salford’s Gareth Hock banned for seven matches after knocking over referee
(34 minutes later)
Gareth Hock has been banned for seven matches after being found guilty of making deliberate physical contact with a referee. The Salford second-row was also fined £300 by an independent disciplinary panel meeting at the Rugby Football League’s headquarters in Leeds.Gareth Hock has been banned for seven matches after being found guilty of making deliberate physical contact with a referee. The Salford second-row was also fined £300 by an independent disciplinary panel meeting at the Rugby Football League’s headquarters in Leeds.
The former England forward was chasing a kick during the first half of Saturday’s Super League match against Hull when he came into contact with the referee, Matt Thomason, who was knocked to the ground.The former England forward was chasing a kick during the first half of Saturday’s Super League match against Hull when he came into contact with the referee, Matt Thomason, who was knocked to the ground.
The player claimed the collision was not deliberate but the panel found him guilty of the offence, which carries a ban of between four and eight matches.The player claimed the collision was not deliberate but the panel found him guilty of the offence, which carries a ban of between four and eight matches.
The 30-year-old was never likely to be shown much leniency; he has been punished twice before for similar offences.The 30-year-old was never likely to be shown much leniency; he has been punished twice before for similar offences.
In July 2008 he was given a five-match ban after being found guilty of pushing the referee Ian Smith while playing for Wigan against Huddersfield and in May 2013, during a loan spell with Widnes, he was banned for four games for making deliberate contact with the referee George Stokes In July 2008 Hock was given a five-match ban after being found guilty of pushing the referee Ian Smith while playing for Wigan against Huddersfield and in May 2013, during a loan spell with Widnes, he was banned for four games for making deliberate contact with the referee George Stokes.
The suspension effectively ends Hock’s season unless he wins an appeal. Salford have seven matches left of the regular season, although they still have an outside chance of reaching the play-offs.The suspension effectively ends Hock’s season unless he wins an appeal. Salford have seven matches left of the regular season, although they still have an outside chance of reaching the play-offs.
The Salford owner, Marwan Koukash, had pledged to defend Hock before the hearing but the club have accepted the ban, with Koukash announcing on Twitter that there would be no appeal.The Salford owner, Marwan Koukash, had pledged to defend Hock before the hearing but the club have accepted the ban, with Koukash announcing on Twitter that there would be no appeal.
“Not going to waste time and money on appealing,” he tweeted. “Hope our players make sure that Hock plays again this season. Let’s move on.”“Not going to waste time and money on appealing,” he tweeted. “Hope our players make sure that Hock plays again this season. Let’s move on.”
Hock, who served a two-year ban for testing positive for cocaine in 2009, was dropped from England’s World Cup squad last October after breaching disciplinary rules and was not included in Steve McNamara’s 34-strong squad for a mid-season training camp.Hock, who served a two-year ban for testing positive for cocaine in 2009, was dropped from England’s World Cup squad last October after breaching disciplinary rules and was not included in Steve McNamara’s 34-strong squad for a mid-season training camp.