Sydney Roosters chairman and billionaire businessman Nick Politis has hit back at claims he confronted a referee in Las Vegas, as the NRL’s integrity unit investigates allegations made by match official Mitchell James.
James filed a complaint against Politis, Roosters director Mark Bouris, and an unnamed coaching staff member over an alleged incident at the Las Vegas Nines tournament last month.
The official claims he was approached by the Roosters executives after their affiliated team, the LA Roosters, suffered a controversial loss in the quarter-finals.
Politis dismissed the accusations, stating, “It is a shame this has been raised after our club went to so much trouble to support the NRL in Las Vegas.”
He further highlighted the Roosters’ $500,000 investment in the LA Roosters and their commitment to expanding the game in the United States.
Criticising the officiating, Politis said, “The penalties were 8-nil against us – it’s very hard not to say something. I told the referee that his performance was poor but at no stage did we swear or act aggressively.”
Bouris also refuted the allegations, insisting, “Neither of us swore or were aggressive. No abuse, no confrontation, no swearing.”
James, who claims he spent $7,000 of his own money to officiate at the tournament, said he was later removed from an international match between the USA and Greece “in his best interest” before returning to Australia. He has since questioned his future in refereeing, citing frustrations over spectator abuse towards officials.
The integrity unit’s investigation is ongoing, with Politis and Bouris maintaining that they have done nothing wrong.
“I trust the NRL will look at all the facts and find that we have no case to answer,” Politis said.
