Newcastle Falcons boss slammed for controversial post-match comments

Newcastle Falcons boss was slammed for controversial post match comments he made following the Falcons one point loss to Exeter yesterday.

The Falcons lost 14-15 against Exeter as they get back on track in the league table. The game was decided by a Joe Simmonds penalty with 4 minutes left to play on the clock. The penalty edged Exeter to a one point win.

Dean Richards said that some of the referee’s decisions were ‘questionable’ in the game. Richards labeled the officiating as “really disappointing”. He said “the boys just don’t know what’s happening from one week to the next”. He also claimed that there is “favoritism” ongoing from the officials.

There was a controversial moment in the game when Newcastle number 8 Callum Chick was awarded a red card 24 minutes into the game. Richards said that the red card should have been downgraded to a yellow due to a ‘drop in height’. The Newcastle boss is appealing to say that mitigation should have applied in the situation.

A lot of people quite rightly were upset with Rassie and how he called into the question the officiating in the Lions v SA 1st test. This is another example of something that is simply unacceptable. Considering his own past #bloodgate, we might see a long ban and a big fine here

— Cherry Jam: A Gloucester Rugby Supporter Podcast (@jam_rugby) February 21, 2022

Fans labeled Richards’ comments as ‘unacceptable’ and ‘poor form’.

Yellow card? Really Deano?? Not much dropping of height by Hodge. A stonewall red card. pic.twitter.com/xq6I6KtJgH

— Glyn Sexton (@glynster61) February 20, 2022

"The boys in the changing room are saying some of the decisions were questionable."

"There's obviously a bit of favouritism in some way shape or form or they don't know what they're doing"

Dean Richards on the officiating during Newcastle Falcons' defeat to Exeter 😶 pic.twitter.com/M7RqbIxLGa

— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) February 20, 2022