NEWCASTLE director of rugby Steve Diamond has called for more accountability in refereeing decisions after receiving a six-match ban for verbal abuse towards match officials.

Diamond appeared before an independent disciplinary panel and was given the suspension after admitting the charge, which took place during Falcons’ 17-15 Premiership defeat to Exeter.

A controversial finish saw Greg Fisilau’s try snatch a last-minute victory and Diamond was unhappy after feeling there was an illegal clear-out ruck in the build-up to the game-winning score.

Speaking ahead of Friday’s meeting with Northampton, Diamond described the Exeter incident as a “huge mistake” and suggested more experienced officials may be needed.

He said: “There’s a problem with the disciplinary system, not the panel’s make-up — they’re good — and not a problem with the referees. There’s only people like me prepared to say things about it, but it’s not the first time these things have happened.

“As soon as you get the TV broadcasters and pundits, who are very experienced, and they spot things — the referees, the hackles come up on the back of their neck, they don’t like it.

“As soon as anybody says something outside of their realm, they corral the caravans around themselves and protect themselves.

“Let’s be honest, I’ve got a six-week ban for saying an inappropriate comment — which I’ve apologised for — to a professional referee in complete privacy.

“My six-week ban starts this week, the team of five were all in Europe last week. A huge mistake happened, not a knock-on, someone was blatantly hit in the face, an illegal action.

“If the ref can’t pick it up, because he can’t see everything and the AR can’t see everything, surely for goodness sake the TMO should be seeing these things?

“The system is flawed. We’re struggling to keep Newcastle alive here and Worcester beforehand. Maybe they need some more investment and more experienced people doing these jobs.

“There’s no accountability. We understand we have to have regulation and understand I can’t say what I said, but there’s got to be some accountability otherwise people keep making mistakes.”

Diamond will not be involved on a matchday for the remainder of Newcastle’s fixtures and with no relegation taking place this season, only pride is at stake.

He will be watching the Northampton match in a stand with his eight-year-old daughter.

“We’re not hanging judges, we’re like ‘right, they’ve got it wrong’, but we’ve got to remember, there’s a lot of livelihoods on the line in these situations,” he added.

“It’s not as if it’s just Steve Diamond, 4,000 people on one side of the terrace saw it, the TV people saw it on the highlights show. No-one’s making things up, we just want it to get as good as it can.

“What I’ve said wrong is one word, I’ve used industrial language. I’ve apologised for it and I think the sanction is correct. I was having a go at the system, not at an individual at all.”