Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis and director Mark Bouris fire back over allegations of referee dispute in Las Vegas

Billionaire Sydney Roosters boss Nick Politis and director Mark Bouris have fired back at claims they confronted a volunteer referee in Las Vegas amid an ongoing investigation from the NRL Integrity Unit.

• Sunday SuperCoach wrap: Don’t buy Storm players!

Billionaire Sydney Roosters boss Nick Politis and director Mark Bouris have fired back at claims they confronted a volunteer referee in Las Vegas as the NRL’s integrity unit pursues an investigation into allegations made by the match official.

Politis, Bouris and an unnamed coaching staff member were the subject of a complaint by referee Mitchell James over an alleged incident at a Las Vegas Nines match last month, which has now been taken up by the integrity unit.

“It is a shame this has been raised after our club went to so much trouble to support the NRL in Las Vegas” Politis said on Monday.

“We have invested a lot of money ($500,000) in the Los Angeles Roosters and will continue to support Peter V’landys’ mission to get a foothold in America.

“We stood there for eight hours over two days to support the Roosters at the Nines.

Politis was critical of the refereeing, saying “the penalties were 8-nil against us – it’s very hard not to say something.

“I told the referee that his performance was poor but at no stage did we swear or act aggressively.

Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis (centre) has fired back at claims of a referee dispute. Picture: DTTV

“I trust the NRL will look at all the facts and find that we have no case to answer. I’m extremely disappointed that headlines have been created out of nothing.”

James, who claims he spent $7000 of his own money to travel to the United States to officiate during the Las Vegas Nines tournament, sent an official report to the NRL on March 2 claiming “unacceptable and unprofessional” conduct after being dropped from an international match and returning to Australia.

He claims he was confronted by the Roosters heavyweights on the sidelines after the LA Roosters were knocked out of the competition in the dying minutes of a quarter final against Veterans Jackals, despite being up 10-0 at halftime.

Footage obtained by this masthead of the game at Silverbowl Park shows James awarded eight penalties to the Jackals and not a single penalty to the LA Roosters, including several against the run of play.

WATCH THE VIDEO IN THE PLAYER AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE

The official at the centre of the complaint has been contacted but declined to comment further until the investigation is finalised.

However, in the complaint he alleges Politis and Bouris as well as an unnamed coaching staff member approached him on the sidelines following the game on February 28.

He claims Bouris said: “I’ve seen a lot of football and that was a disgrace! You reffed us out of the game.”

Sydney Roosters bosses pictured at the Vegas Nines tournament. Picture: DTTV

Shortly afterwards he claims he was dumped from officiating duties for a USA v Greece game “in his best interest” and he then returned home, where he is now questioning his future as a match official after two decades in the game.

“Neither of us swore or were aggressive,” Bouris said.

“We were never in his face.

“No abuse, no confrontation, no swearing.

“There were a lot of decisions he made that, in our opinion, were wrong.

“And I felt strongly about it. There were nine penalties against us and zero in our favour.

“I’ve never abused a referee in my life. That’s the only conversation I’ve ever had with one.

“And the suggestion that Nick and I tried to get him taken off the Greek game is bullshit.”

Graham Annesley’s response email to referee Mitchell James.

Among the details in the report, James says he is frustrated by spectator abuse towards match officials, and expresses concerns for the future of refereeing with junior participation dropping off.

“I have had enough of spectator abuse towards referees and I am sick of the game promoting the growth rate of the

player numbers and we should be concerned with the reduction in capable referees,” he wrote.

“The game will soon outgrow the number of available referees and this needs to be addressed.”

Originally published as Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis and director Mark Bouris fire back over allegations of referee dispute in Las Vegas