Australian rugby referee George Ayoub, who upset New Zealand fans with his slow decisions as television match official in Auckland last month, has announced his retirement.
Ayoub will pocket his whistle at the end of the year, after a 17-year career.
In the test between the All Blacksand France at Eden Park last month, Ayoub earned the wrath of fans by taking an eternity to decide that New Zealand winger Sitiveni Sivivatu had scored in a melee over the France tryline.
He also viewed numerous replays before deciding Isaia Toeava had not scored in the match, won by the All Blacks 42-11, prompting NZ assistant coach Steve Hansen to say: "People want to come and see tries -- they don't want to sit there and go 'here we go' for 20-odd minutes (while decisions are made."
Ayoub refereed three tests and 17 Super 12 and 14 rugby matches.
"After 11 seasons involved at the national and international level, I plan to move on to other challenges," Ayoub said yesterday.
"It is time to call it a day at the senior level and allow the next generation of referees to take over."
One of Ayoub's last matches in charge will be the clash between the Australian and New Zealand schoolboys on October 10.
