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An NRL Grand Final hero has landed in hot water after he allegedly swore at a referee during a footy match.
Andrew Fifita was playing for De La Salle during a clash against the Gymea Gorillas last weekend when the incident took place.
Fifita made 213 appearances for Cronulla Sharks and was a part of the team that won their maiden premiership title in 2016, notably scoring a try that led to the game-winning conversion.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the 36-year-old is alleged to have called a referee a ‘****’ during the first half of the match.
He is now facing a five-match suspension over the matter, having been slapped with a Grade Two offensive language charge.
‘He has pleaded not guilty and will face a judiciary hearing tomorrow night,’ an NSWRL spokesperson said.
Andrew Fifita was playing for De La Salle during a clash against the Gymea Gorillas last weekend when the incident took place
Fifita, pictured with his wife Nikitia, denied that he had directed the comment toward the referee
‘The NSWRL will make no further comment until the judicial matter is complete.’
It also now means that Cronulla will be under the spotlight to sack the former footy star, should he be found guilty, who is the coach of their Tarsha Gale women’s junior representative side.
The prop forward is also employed by the Sharks as part of its culture and welfare team.
‘It's an awkward situation because of his profile and the coaching position,’ sources close to the club said to Nine’s Wide World of Sports.
Cronulla executive Dino Mezzatesta revealed that he has spoken with Fifita about the incident, with the forward insisting that he had not made the alleged comment towards the referee.
‘Andrew was sent off for swearing, but he has advised the club he didn’t direct it at the referee it was directed at an opposing player, who has also confirmed that the comment was directed at him,’ Mezzatesta said.
‘He has also acknowledged that the language was inappropriate all the same.
‘Andrew is waiting for a date from NSWRL for his hearing, where he will be contesting the charge.
Should Fifita be found guilty, the Cronulla Sharks could face pressure to part company with the former NRL player, who currently is employed in a welfare role with the footy club
‘The Cronulla Sharks will wait for this process to be completed.’
It’s not the first time that the footy player has found himself in front of a rugby league tribunal after he and his brother, David, were once stood down from playing junior rugby league games in Penrith for 12 months.
Fifita had been accused of physically threatening a referee, following a match between Penrith Juniors and St Patricks in 2015.
His brother, David, was also accused of swearing at the referee, telling the official ‘you’re a f***ing disgrace mate.’
