Former Serbia coach Marko Jankovic given sine-die suspension
Friday 4 September 2015 17:40, UK
Former Serbia national rugby league coach Marko Jankovic has been handed an indefinite ban for his part in the abandonment of his team's international against Ireland in Belgrade.
Last Saturday's match, which was part of the Rugby Football League's 120th anniversary celebrations, was halted following a brawl that broke out after Jankovic allegedly made contact with an Ireland player.
It is understood up to four players had been sent off in the build-up to the incident, which prompted the Irish team to walk off the field.
The Serbian Rugby League Federation on Thursday moved to distance itself from Jankovic, who resigned from his post ahead of his disciplinary hearing at which he was given a sine-die suspension.
An RLEF statement read: "Former Serbia national team coach Marko Jankovic has been handed a sine die suspension by the RLEF Disciplinary Committee after being found guilty of misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(i) - behaviour contrary to the true spirit of the game - for an incident during Serbia's match against Ireland in Belgrade on 29 August 2015."
The Rugby League European Federation disciplinary committee found Jankovic guilty of misconduct and say, in accordance with the operational rules, he has until Tuesday to decide whether to appeal the decision.
The committee has also charged Serbia player Zarko Kovacevic with two separate charges of kicking to the head and sustained punching over his part in the brawl.
