Argentina star Tomas Albornoz cops four-game ban after referee incident

The incident occurred after the final whistle in Los Pumas’ 31-24 defeat to England in Santiago del Estero last month, where the fly-half was seen in an altercation with referee Angus Gardner.

Upon review, Albornoz was issued with misconduct charges under World Rugby’s new Match Official Abuse Sanction Process.

In a statement, World Rugby said: “Tomás Albornoz has been suspended for four matches after admitting misconduct arising from interactions with match officials following Argentina’s Nations Championship match against England on 18 July.

“In determining misconduct under Regulation 18, the disciplinary committee noted that the Argentina fly-half accepted the misconduct allegations. In particular, he accepted that his conduct, taken as a whole, was intimidatory.

“The committee accepted that contact with referee Angus Gardner, although limited in nature, occurred while disputing a match official’s decision and formed part of that overall course of intimidatory conduct. The committee also noted that Albornoz approached the referee on two separate occasions and had to be restrained by team-mates.

“The committee further noted that, while Albornoz accepted that his conduct amounted to intimidation of a match official, he did not accept that his actions were abusive, insulting, offensive or threatening. That distinction was accepted by both World Rugby and the committee.

“In determining sanction, the committee accepted that the contact with the referee, while limited, occurred in the context of disputing a match official’s decision and formed part of an overall course of intimidatory conduct.

“The committee considered that aspect of the misconduct comparable to the low-end entry point for contact with a match official under Appendix 1 to Regulation 17, which carries a six-match suspension.

“Taking into account Albornoz’s early acceptance of the charge, his undertakings to issue public and private written apologies, and his previously clear disciplinary record, the committee accepted that a four-match suspension was appropriate.”

As a result, the playmaker will miss Los Pumas’ upcoming Test against the Springboks, their two-Test series against the Wallabies and Toulon’s Top 14 fixture against La Rochelle.