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Punter takes NRL to court over video ref.
A KEEN punter is taking legal action against the National Rugby League over a video-refereeing decision.
Wollongong bus driver Carlo Giacometti has taken the NRL to the small claims division of the Local Court over the loss of a head start bet because of what he alleges was the wrongful awarding of a try in the July game between the Brisbane Broncos and today's grand finalists the Sydney Roosters.
In his statement of claim served upon NRL Ltd at its Sydney Fox Studios headquarters on Friday, Mr Giacometti said that he was seeking relief in the sum of $270.30 plus filing fees of $83.
The claim states that he had placed a $51 wager at odds of 5.3 that the Roosters would win by more than 6.5 points.
His claim said: ''At the 70th and 71st minute in the game, the rules were not properly applied - a try [four points] which was clearly not a try, was awarded to Brisbane by the video referee and subsequently converted [an additional two points].
''The defendant is responsible for the proper administration of the rules of the game of rugby league.
''The defendant is the employer of the referee and is vicariously liable for the actions of the match officials.
''The plaintiff suffered loss of his wager as a consequence of the grossly negligent administration of the rules of the game.''
Mr Giacometti said his bet was not a large sum of money but he was taking the action because he had had enough of poor refereeing decisions.
He said although the Roosters won the match by two points, the try to the Broncos was awarded by the video referee before any video replay of it was shown to the public a minute after the ruling.
''If they want to get it correct before the bookies pay they should check, like in racing, to see if there is any protest upheld,'' he said.
''They [Roosters] should have won by eight points. I think that a lot of people feel the same as I do.''
Mr Giacometti has gone even further in his fight for National Rugby League betting reform and has set up his own website, refgotitwrong.com, which features footage of other video-refereeing errors during this year's NRL season.
He is also urging other punters who have lost out to join him in a class action against the NRL.
Wollongong bus driver Carlo Giacometti has taken the NRL to the small claims division of the Local Court over the loss of a head start bet because of what he alleges was the wrongful awarding of a try in the July game between the Brisbane Broncos and today's grand finalists the Sydney Roosters.
In his statement of claim served upon NRL Ltd at its Sydney Fox Studios headquarters on Friday, Mr Giacometti said that he was seeking relief in the sum of $270.30 plus filing fees of $83.
The claim states that he had placed a $51 wager at odds of 5.3 that the Roosters would win by more than 6.5 points.
His claim said: ''At the 70th and 71st minute in the game, the rules were not properly applied - a try [four points] which was clearly not a try, was awarded to Brisbane by the video referee and subsequently converted [an additional two points].
''The defendant is responsible for the proper administration of the rules of the game of rugby league.
''The defendant is the employer of the referee and is vicariously liable for the actions of the match officials.
''The plaintiff suffered loss of his wager as a consequence of the grossly negligent administration of the rules of the game.''
Mr Giacometti said his bet was not a large sum of money but he was taking the action because he had had enough of poor refereeing decisions.
He said although the Roosters won the match by two points, the try to the Broncos was awarded by the video referee before any video replay of it was shown to the public a minute after the ruling.
''If they want to get it correct before the bookies pay they should check, like in racing, to see if there is any protest upheld,'' he said.
''They [Roosters] should have won by eight points. I think that a lot of people feel the same as I do.''
Mr Giacometti has gone even further in his fight for National Rugby League betting reform and has set up his own website, refgotitwrong.com, which features footage of other video-refereeing errors during this year's NRL season.
He is also urging other punters who have lost out to join him in a class action against the NRL.
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