Phil Gould has been hit with a breach notice by the NRL following comments he made on Nine's 100% Footy on Monday.
The Bulldogs general manager of football has been fined $20,000, half of which is suspended for 24 months, after he labelled the game "stupid", among other remarks in a rant on the weekly panel show.
In response, the NRL has issued Gould with a breach notice.
MORE: 2024 NRL live ladder | Every NRL club's updated injury list | Every NRL fixture and result for each club
As a club employee, Gould is bound by the league's Code of Conduct.
"The notice proposes a fine for Gould of $20,000, half of which will be suspended for a period of 24 months," the NRL statement read.
"It is alleged that on the 100% Footy program on Monday evening, Gould made public comments considered to be detrimental to the best interests of the game, in contravention of the NRL Rules.
"The Code provides that no person bound by the Code shall engage in any conduct which is detrimental to, brings into disrepute, is inconsistent with, is contrary to, or is prejudicial to, the best interests, image or welfare of the ARLC, the NRL, the NRL Competition, the Related Competitions, the Representative Competitions, the Clubs or the Game."
Gould has five business days to respond to the breach notice.
What did Phil Gould say?
Gould, who has previously been warned over his comments during his many extensive commitments, was on this occasion discussing the decision to disallow a try to Wests Tigers captain Api Koroisau in round eight.
“Our game’s so stupid,” Gould said on the program.
“You can lose the ball over the line and it costs you 20 metres and seven tackles. Why?
“I don’t know because it’s stupid, but I can just take a line dropout, and it goes out on the full... no consequence.
“It’s nothing at all. What sort of stupid game is this? Who sits and makes up these rules?”
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said comments like Gould's would "not be tolerated."
“We welcome constructive criticism and passionate opinions, but registered officials cannot overstep the mark and make comments that are considered detrimental to the game or NRL competition. Destructive attacks on the game itself will not be tolerated,” Abdo said.
“This is a professional sport and our leaders should set the standard around reasoned debate and respect for the game.”
Gould has been working at the Bulldogs since 2021, having previously spent time at a host of clubs, as a player, coach and various other positions across the football department.
