Oztag referee a victim of player's 'blind explosion'

Former referee Jason Fernie says he accepts the apology from his assailant, Benson Leipau Pauga. Video via AAP

Transcript

00:00At the end of the day, when there's no ref, there's no game, I'm disappointed with the

00:04situation but it's good that he actually apologised to me and I do accept the apologies but what he

00:10did was totally unacceptable. Were you expecting to feel like you had it in you to shake his hand

00:15or what prompted that? I think it was just the spare of a moment and because he'd actually looked

00:21at me and did apologise you know I thought I'd just you know thank him but yeah very upset but

00:28you know it is what it is. Because I can't ref anymore that's what hurts the most

00:34you know I miss my Austag family.