Mount Hagen Eagles trainer Stanley Akinu has been banned for life by the Papua New Guinea National Rugby League board after assaulting the referee following his team's defeat in the Digicel Cup semi finals.
Akinu's life ban covers his involvement with any franchise in the PNGNRL, as well as not being allowed within 50m of any Digicel Cup game or event.
Eagles players Francis Ray and captain Junior Rau were also handed 10 year bans, while the Western Highlands franchise has been suspended from competition for three years.
Akinu is also facing a possible manslaughter charge related to the death of Joe Pidik, who died five days after being hit by a brick when Eagles fans attacked the vehicle he was in, near the Sir John Guise Stadium.
Papua New Guinea Hunters and national team coach Michael Marum is a former Agmark Gurias mentor.
He said it was a tragic incident.
"Really sad to see the attack on the referees the previous week but the grand final (on Saturday) went well. The (Agmark Gurias) boys were unlucky to lose that game. All the families turned up again and supported both teams yesterday after a week of all the other talk about the referees being punched and we also had one of the Gurias supporters being passed away, just sad yeah."
Sir John Guise Stadium during the Digicel Cup grand final between Lae Snax Tigers and Rabaul Agmark Gurias. Photo: Facebook/Hon Justin Tkatchenko MP
The Eagles' three-year suspension is effective from this month and ends in September 2019.
The team's third-place prizemoney of K20,000 was also forfeited to pay for damages to the venue during post-match violence at the Sir John Guise Stadium.
Four Gurias players - Francis Paniu, Solomon Hamari, Lukas Kapinius and Adrian Boungas - were also fined K5000 each and given five-match suspensions next season for retaliating when they were attacked.
All parties have 14 days to appeal their bans and fines.
