Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada was hit with a two-match suspension following comments about the referee performance when his team faced the All Blacks this past weekend.
Gonzalo Quesada has become the first coach to fall foul of World Rugby’s new Match Official Abuse Sanction Process after receiving a two-match suspension for comments he made about the officiating following Italy’s Nations Championship defeat to New Zealand.
World Rugby confirmed on Thursday that the Italy head coach has been handed an automatic two-match ban from all match-day activities, including being present at the stadium, after remarks he made during a broadcast interview following the match last Saturday.
Quesada has the right to appeal the sanction.
The punishment is the first under World Rugby’s stricter approach to protecting match officials, which came into effect this month after being approved at the governing body’s recent Shape of the Game forum.
