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Guinness Pro12 chiefs have moved to appease teams and their fans by introducing neutral television match officials for next season.

They took the decision, which will cost them about £150,000 a year to fund in extra travel and hotel bills, following a spate of controversies.

Sam Davies’ try for the Ospreys in Connacht was controversially disallowed and Edinburgh coach Alan Solomons had a blast at a Welsh assistant referee who flagged for a crucial penalty during a match at the Scarlets.

The previous campaign Connacht coach Pat Lam was fined 8,000 euros for comments he made about Welshman Leighton Hodges following a stormy clash against Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park.

Lam was highly critical after Hodges, who was a touch judge at the game, intervened to give the Blues a late penalty, which they scored from to win.

“At 83 minutes they knock the ball clearly on. There was no ruck, our guy came from onside, cleared the ball, game over,” he had said.

“The referee called game over, and Leighton Hodges from the side made a call that was completely wrong. It was a massive call to make in a game.

“I believe we have to be accountable. “We’re talking livelihoods here, so officials need to be accountable too.”

Lam was found guilty by a Pro 12 disciplinary committee of publicly questioning the integrity of Hodges, and hit with the heavy fine.

Pro12 managing director Martin Anayi revealed his organisation was also bring in a neutral assistant referee at each match.

He said it was impossible to have neutral referees at all of the competition’s matches because there wasn’t enough quality officials at present.

“A survey we did of the fans showed they wanted the international players to be playing in the league more often and referees to be neutral,” he said.

(Image: PA Wire)

“We already have neutral referees for 70% of the games but, to have all neutral referees, we need more from Scotland and Italy. That takes money, investment and time.

“That’s what the unions are doing and, until we get to three years time, we are going to have a neutral assistant referee and a neutral TMO for all matches.

“Ultimately, if you are listening to a match on television and you hear an Irish TMO speaking at a match in Ireland, as happened with Connacht versus the Ospreys, you are going to to think they are biased, even though we know they are not.”