Walsh gets red card after Horgan bust-up

LEADING New Zealand referee Steve Walsh has been red-carded by the IRB after a verbal sideline row with Shane Horgan during the Lions tour.

It is his second suspension, following a short ban during the 2003 World Cup for a slanging match with English fitness conditioner Dave Reddin.

But before Walsh’s latest stand-down begins, he has won the race to referee the NPC final at Eden Park on Saturday between Auckland and Otago.

Walsh’s latest offence occurred when he was a touch judge during Taranaki’s match against the Lions in June.

The Lions complained about Walsh’s conduct and were also critical about other New Zealand touch judges’ work on the hapless tour.

The sequel is that Walsh is the only one of the 23 referees on the A- or B-list international panel who has been bypassed as an official for the 22 tests to be played in November in Europe and Argentina.

“I have to cop it sweet. That’s the way it is and I have to get on with my life,” he said yesterday.

NZRFU deputy chief executive Steve Tew said last night the union had talked to Walsh about the incident and moved on.

“The decision is that of the IRB. That is their call.

“We assessed the situation and some appropriate action, which I can’t go into because it involves private employment details, has been taken.”

Tew said Walsh had remained eligible for any game in New Zealand since the Lions match. Some action had been taken but he could not specify what.

“We will continue to support him, we don’t want this to happen again.”

The decision to overlook Walsh was made by a committee convened by IRB referees manager and former top New Zealand official Paddy O’Brien.

Walsh was suspended briefly from the last World Cup after his involvement in the “Great Substitution Scandal” when England’s Dan Luger played for 34 seconds as an extra man.

England were fined and conditioner Reddin banned from the touchline for two games after complaints that they ignored match officials and illegally replaced a player.