Officials letting cheats kill game, says Cockerill

LEICESTER’S director of rugby Richard Cockerill claimed Heineken Cup referees are allowing cheats to prosper after Perpignan snatched a 22-22 draw at Welford Road.

Cockerill risked the wrath of competition organisers ERC by criticising the performance of Irish referee Peter Fitzgibbon as the Tigers’ European ambitions suffered a setback.

Saracens boss Brendan Venter was fined €25,000 by ERC last month for criticising referees in the aftermath of his side’s Heineken Cup defeat by Leinster at Wembley.