SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Referee Tony Archer reacts during the 2012 NRL Grand Final match between the Melbourne Storm and the Canterbury Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on September 30, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

NRL referees boss Tony Archer has been sacked after a year of controversy for the games adjudicators.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Archer has been demoted to a game development job that has no connection with the refereeing department.

The dismissal ends Archer's five-year tenure as the boss of the games adjudicators.

Archer received criticism this season for a penalty crackdown, that robbed fans of eight hours of in-play action.

Head of Football Graham Annesley will now oversee all appointments and will try to improve the morale within the refereeing ranks.

Annesley was critical of the refereeing hierarchy during the season, particularly the penalty crackdown, which was implemented by Archer.

“My objective is to deliver on the NRL strategic plan which is to implement free flowing and exciting football,” Annesley said when he began his role as Head of Football.

The former Gold Coast Titans boss also expressed concerns about the way the referees were being coached and the amount of interpretations across the field.

Archer is the second official to lose his job over the refereeing controversies.

Former Head of Football Brian Canavan was moved to game development, which is the same role offered to Archer.

 

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