mmg.com.au

Former Moama Cricket Club co-coach Paul Jacobs has copped a five-year ban from the Goulburn Murray Cricket board after a physical altercation with umpire Lance Carrington on Saturday.

The ruling means he cannot hold any position with any club in the association until the 2018-19 season.

Carrington was suspended from umpiring for the rest of the season and received a suspended sentence for two years, while Moama was also fined $500.

The penalties, which are unprecedented, were handed down at a hearing on Wednesday night.

‘‘Goulburn Murray Cricket has been advised of several incidents that occurred at the Moama cricket ground on Saturday during the closing stages and after the conclusion of the match between Moama and Fire Brigade which have brought the association and the game of cricket into disrepute,’’ the association said in a statement.

Jacobs, Carrington and representatives from Moama and Fire Brigade spoke at the hearing.

‘‘Basically all we know is there was an altercation after the match and, under the code of conduct of cricket, that’s why we decided to take that action,’’ GMC president Lindsay Rankin said.

‘‘An umpire’s got to be protected at all times and we, the board, felt we need to support umpires otherwise the game doesn’t happen and we took that into consideration.’’

Rankin said Moama was fined $500 because they were responsible for the then coach Jacobs.

‘‘Under the rules, that’s the max (fine),’’ he said.

‘‘Their coach Paul Jacobs had been drinking and was representing their club against the code of conduct.’’

As for Carrington, the board felt he was provoked but he also played a part in the altercation.

‘‘The Goulburn Murray Cricket board is determined to ensure all clubs, players and officials uphold the spirit of cricket and abide by the respective codes of conduct as prescribed in the rules of the association,’’ the association statement said.

Moama secretary Anthony Farrant said it was an unfortunate situation.

‘‘A remarkably regrettable incident for our club which has led to the ending of a relationship with a bloke who has contributed a lot to our club over the past two or three seasons,’’ he said.