Venter was alleged to have questioned the integrity of referee David Rose © Getty Images

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Saracens director of rugby Brendan Venter has been handed a four-week ban by the RFU, suspended until December 31, 2010, for comments he made regarding Guinness Premiership referee David Rose.

Venter faced an RFU disciplinary panel on Tuesday evening after being charged with conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game. His comments about Rose came in the wake of Saracens' 22-15 Premiership defeat to Leicester at Vicarage Road on January 2. The former South Africa centre was also told to make a public apology to Rose and pay costs of £250.

"Brendan Venter was found guilty of an amended charge in relation to his post-match comments on January 2, 2010 after Saracens had lost against Leicester Tigers," the decision said.

"He was guilty of conduct which was prejudicial to the interests of the Union in that he, whilst taking part in a BBC interview, implied criticism of the match referee by stating that he believed the referee had been influenced at half-time without any further explanation so that a listener might conclude the influence had been improper."

The defeat was Saracens' second in succession after their winning streak was ended by London Irish in December, with Venter implying that after the break inconsistencies in the officiating had cost his side. Following the RFU's judgement he immediately released a statement apologising to Rose.

"I apologise unreservedly for making a statement which caused offence to David Rose during my post match comments to the media after our game against Leicester at Vicarage Road," he said. "I firmly believe that I did not question, or intend to question, David's integrity and any criticism which has been implied was not meant.

"When I said that I believed he had been influenced at half time I did not intend that to mean that he was improperly influenced. As I said in the interview I have no doubt that all referees operating in the Guinness Premiership, including David, are honest and operate without intentionally favouring one side over another. I hope that we can put this matter behind us and I look forward to welcoming David Rose back to Vicarage Road in the near future."

As a result of the hearnig, RFU referees' chief Ed Morrison is to review the current process of allowing written communication between coaches and referees at half-time in Guinness Premiership matches. Currently, both sides are allowed to submit "Half-Time Referee Communication" cards to the fourth official, which are then brought to the attention of the referee. But the disciplinary panel commented that they believed the system of allowing communication with officials during an ongoing game does allow referees to be influenced.

Judge Jeff Blackett's ruling said, "The Panel wish to express concern about the current system in the Guinness Premiership of allowing written communication between coaches and the referee at half-time. This system does allow coaches to influence the referee and there is potential for that influence to be improper. We understand that this was established to diffuse any potential conflicts which might occur if there were direct contact.

"However, we believe that the system should either prevent any direct or indirect contact or, if there is to be written contact, be more formal and transparent. Ed Morrison has agreed to review this process."