Newcastle forward handed eight match ban for assaulting referee

Newcastle forward Alex Foster has been handed an eight-match ban for assaulting a match official.

Foster, 28, was charged following the incident in Newcastle’s win over Bradford on the eve of Magic Weekend.

Alex Foster given Grade F (minimum eight matches) for this, for those asking. He was sin-binned during the game. pic.twitter.com/vQ8vncRS04

— Matthew Shaw (@M_Shaw1) July 14, 2022

The former Castleford and Leeds back-rower pleaded guilty to the offence, but contested the grading.

However, the RFL tribunal found him guilty at Grade F meaning he now misses eight games.

Newcastle are currently 10th in the Championship, and have eight games left of the regular season.

Elsewhere, Sheffield forward Joel Farrell was banned for two matches for a striking charge.

He successfully challenged the grading, reducing it from Grade D to Grade B.

Former Newcastle forward Sam Luckley had his appeal for a trip in Salford’s game against Catalans thrown out.

Luckley was handed a Grade B charge and remains suspended for one match.