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ARL Commissioner and rugby league legend Mark Coyne has been stood down by the commission chair Peter Beattie following an incident in Singapore.
Coyne was last night finally set to return to Australia from Singapore after having his passport withheld for nearly seven weeks following allegations he used “vile and disgusting” language towards public officials.
The Herald understands Coyne was involved in an argument outside a hotel on June 2.
Coyne informed his fellow commissioners earlier this week of the incident, possibly following an inquiry from the Herald. Coyne did not respond to that inquiry.
ARLC and NRL code-of-conduct rules make it obligatory for players, coaches and officers to self-report charges, even the prospect of being charged by police, whether overseas or in Australia.
The incident happened while the former St George Illawarra captain, Queensland hero and Australian representative was in Singapore with friends three days before the first State of Origin match. The Heraldunderstands he was briefly held in a cell overnight and forced to surrender his passport.
The matter could become a major embarrassment for the ARLC, particularly if it is later revealed Coyne, or any of his fellow ARL Commissioners, withheld the news of the incident.
Coyne was allegedly involved in an argument outside Singapore’s Grand Hyatt hotel on the night of June 2. It is understood a hotel doorman contacted police.
Local lawyers say the hard line taken by authorities arose from Coyne’s alleged disrespectful language to police and his initial refusal to withdraw his comments when invited to do so.
Coyne intended playing golf with friends in Indonesia before flying to Brisbane for Origin I but briefly stayed at the home of former Australian racing steward Terry Bailey, whom he knew via their Queensland connection. Bailey is now chief steward at the Singapore Racing Club and, when it was clear Coyne would remain in Singapore, his judicial position risked being compromised and Coyne moved to a hotel.
The NRL became aware of the situation via its integrity unit, which was told by law enforcement officers.
The Herald understands that throughout the ordeal, Coyne has been extremely concerned about the embarrassment to the code following a summer of shame, during which NRL players were charged with sexual and domestic assault.
Coyne is the most recent addition to the ARLC board, joining in February, and while he initially expressed opposition to the ARLC’s automatic stand-down of any player charged with an offence carrying a penalty of 11 years or more, he later agreed, making the resolution unanimous.
Coyne’s wife, Annie, flew to meet him four days following the incident and was with him again on Tuesday, along with the chairman of the company that employs him.
Coyne missed all three Origin matches while in Singapore. NSW’s final try in the deciding Origin match drew comparisons with his own thrilling last-second, match-winning try in 1994.
Coyne was contacted at the time for comment but reports merely mentioned he was overseas, where he described TV coverage of the game as scratchy. Coyne has been worried about the story leaking, with many of his former teammates believing he could not fly back to Australia, owing to a middle-ear infection.
Coyne booked a flight home to Australia last week, expecting to be leaving Singapore with the matter finalised on Thursday.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/ar...nd-mark-coyne-stood-down-20190717-p5286m.html
Coyne was last night finally set to return to Australia from Singapore after having his passport withheld for nearly seven weeks following allegations he used “vile and disgusting” language towards public officials.
The Herald understands Coyne was involved in an argument outside a hotel on June 2.
Coyne informed his fellow commissioners earlier this week of the incident, possibly following an inquiry from the Herald. Coyne did not respond to that inquiry.
ARLC and NRL code-of-conduct rules make it obligatory for players, coaches and officers to self-report charges, even the prospect of being charged by police, whether overseas or in Australia.
The incident happened while the former St George Illawarra captain, Queensland hero and Australian representative was in Singapore with friends three days before the first State of Origin match. The Heraldunderstands he was briefly held in a cell overnight and forced to surrender his passport.
The matter could become a major embarrassment for the ARLC, particularly if it is later revealed Coyne, or any of his fellow ARL Commissioners, withheld the news of the incident.
Coyne was allegedly involved in an argument outside Singapore’s Grand Hyatt hotel on the night of June 2. It is understood a hotel doorman contacted police.
Local lawyers say the hard line taken by authorities arose from Coyne’s alleged disrespectful language to police and his initial refusal to withdraw his comments when invited to do so.
Coyne intended playing golf with friends in Indonesia before flying to Brisbane for Origin I but briefly stayed at the home of former Australian racing steward Terry Bailey, whom he knew via their Queensland connection. Bailey is now chief steward at the Singapore Racing Club and, when it was clear Coyne would remain in Singapore, his judicial position risked being compromised and Coyne moved to a hotel.
The NRL became aware of the situation via its integrity unit, which was told by law enforcement officers.
The Herald understands that throughout the ordeal, Coyne has been extremely concerned about the embarrassment to the code following a summer of shame, during which NRL players were charged with sexual and domestic assault.
Coyne is the most recent addition to the ARLC board, joining in February, and while he initially expressed opposition to the ARLC’s automatic stand-down of any player charged with an offence carrying a penalty of 11 years or more, he later agreed, making the resolution unanimous.
Coyne’s wife, Annie, flew to meet him four days following the incident and was with him again on Tuesday, along with the chairman of the company that employs him.
Coyne missed all three Origin matches while in Singapore. NSW’s final try in the deciding Origin match drew comparisons with his own thrilling last-second, match-winning try in 1994.
Coyne was contacted at the time for comment but reports merely mentioned he was overseas, where he described TV coverage of the game as scratchy. Coyne has been worried about the story leaking, with many of his former teammates believing he could not fly back to Australia, owing to a middle-ear infection.
Coyne booked a flight home to Australia last week, expecting to be leaving Singapore with the matter finalised on Thursday.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/ar...nd-mark-coyne-stood-down-20190717-p5286m.html
