Saracens director of rugby Brendan Venter will not be allowed to attend Saturday's English Premiership final against Leicester at twickenham despite having his 14-week touchline ban reduced by one month on Wednesday.
The 40-year-old - a member of the South African side that won the 1995 World Cup final - was banned by a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel for making provocative and inappropriate gestures during Saracens' win against Leicester on May 8.
Venter received a 10-week ban for his gesture while RFU disciplinary chief Judge Jeff Blackett activated a four-week suspended penalty he was given for criticism of referees.
His ban was reduced to 10 weeks, a Rugby Football Union appeal hearing ruled late Wednesday.
Venter's ban will now run until July 29, the RFU said in a statement on Wednesday.
Jim Sturman, chairman of the appeals panel, said it had been impressed by Venter's "appeal for assistance with his conduct in the future and his desire to avoid future clashes with the authorities."
Sturman added that the sentence had been reduced to allow Venter and Saracens "the opportunity to put this matter behind them and start next season with a clean slate."
