The physiotherapist for the Counties Manukau rugby side, Daniel Halliday, has been suspended for five games for abusing the assistant referees during the side's loss to Auckland last month.
A judicial hearing heard that Halliday abused and swore at both assistant referees during the match and accused them of bias.
The independent judicial officer Chris Morris says the situation was aggravated when one of the assistant referees responded, causing Halliday to lose his temper further.
In his decision Mr Morris described Halliday's behaviours as inappropriate and issued a five week match day ban noting that two matches had already been self-imposed.
The Counties Manukau coach Tana Umaga was earlier given a two week suspended ban for insulting match officials during the same game.
