UNDER-FIRE York City Knights director John Guildford has been fined £500 by the Rugby Football League for posting inappropriate material on social media.
As reported by The Press last month, Guildford caused controversy when he called two Knights fans “window lickers” – a derogatory comment aimed at people with learning difficulties – on Facebook.
The comments were aimed at supporters who had accused him of causing the rugby club to become homeless due to a failure to hold amicable negotiations with City of York Council over the community stadium project.
An RFL statement said: “York City Knights director John Guildford has been fined £500 after posting inappropriate material, including the use of unacceptable language, on the social media network Facebook.
“Mr Guildford was found to be in breach of RFL Operational Rule D1.1(b) conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game; Rule c2.3 unacceptable behaviour; the RFL Respect Policy; and the RFL Social Media Policy.
“Mr Guildford has 14 days in which to appeal the decision at an independent RFL Operational Rules Tribunal.”
Guildford has said he will accept the fine. He made no further comment but has previously apologised for posting the material, saying in a statement he had been subject to severe provocation and in a “moment of madness” decided to respond.
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