Eaton handed ban and fine for official abuse

Keighley Cougars coach Barry Eaton has been fined £500 after being found guilty of using foul and abusive language to a match official in his side’s Championship One defeat by Dewsbury Rams

Eaton, who pleaded guilty when he appeared before the RFL Disciplinary Committee this evening, was ordered to pay £250 with a further £250 suspended, for a series of outbursts at touch-judge Andy Smith.

Handing down the sentence, Disciplinary Committee Chairman Judge Rodney Grant described Eaton’s actions as “reprehensible” and “a serious breach of the RFL’s Respect policy.” The Committee recommended that the fine be payable to the Respect campaign.

Eaton has also been banned from the touchline for the remainder of the season.