Police officers issued NRL ban notice for allegedly throwing projectile at referee Ashley Klein

Two police officers have been banned from multiple stadiums in NSW and attending NRL games for targeting referee Ashley Klein with a projectile after the controversial Roosters-Storm clash.

Refs before the Storm v Roosters clash in April. Picture: NRL Imagery

Police are investigating the behaviour of two-off duty officers after they were issued with a ban notice from attending any NRL matches following an incident at a Sydney Roosters home game last month.

Three people have been handed suspensions from attending any Venues NSW ground for up to two years. Venues NSW control the best stadiums across the state including Allianz Stadium, Sydney Cricket Ground, Accor Stadium, CommBank Stadium, WIN Stadium and McDonald Jones Stadium.

Two of the three alleged perpetrators are police officers. The NRL have also issued ban notices to the two officers which would forbid them from attending any matches.

“NSW police are aware of an incident on Thursday 18 April at a sporting venue in Moore Park, involving two off duty NSW police officers,” a police spokesman said.

“An internal investigation has commenced into the conduct of the involved officers.”

It is understood that a projectile was thrown towards the match officials as they walked from the field in the aftermath of the Melbourne and Roosters game which the Storm won 18-12.

Veteran referee Ashley Klein controlled the game. Klein nor any of his fellow match officials were hit by any objects and left the venue uninjured.

The match was overshadowed by contentious bunker rulings.

A Venues NSW spokesman confirmed three people had been banned from the venues for up to 24 months because of “offensive behaviour”.

Refs before the Storm v Roosters clash in April. Picture: NRL Imagery

Venues NSW are also continuing to investigate a similar incident in Newcastle just seven days earlier where a projectile was thrown at match officials as they made their way from the field.

An object – potentially an E-Cigarette or a vape – was hurled towards the match officials narrowly missing the targets in the aftermath of a controversial finish to the Knights and Roosters clash.

Gerard Sutton was in charge on that occasion. The venue is continuing to look at CCTV footage to find the offender.

It is common practice for the match officials to have a security escort to their vehicles following games.

These incidents follow an ugly brawl in the crowd which marred the Roosters and Rabbitohs clash at Allianz Stadium earlier this year.

Four people were banned from the venue for two years while a 22-year-old man was charged with affray.

The NRL introduced a new spectator code of conduct earlier this year.

Originally published as Police officers issued NRL ban notice for allegedly throwing projectile at referee Ashley Klein