BITTER Kangaroos coach Ricky Stuart faces disciplinary action after being accused of abusing referee Ashley Klein and "physically and aggressively intimidating" him and a top England official as they were checking out of their hotel the day after New Zealand's shock win in the tournament final.

World Cup officials yesterday launched an investigation after receiving a formal complaint about the behaviour of Stuart, who is alleged to have repeatedly called Klein a "f---ing cheat" as he was preparing to depart for Brisbane Airport with the Rugby Football League's director of referees, Stuart Cummings.

According to reports from England, Cummings attempted to interject but was "manhandled" by Stuart in his attempt to get to Klein. The incident follows an earlier Stuart tirade against Australian Rugby League chief executive Geoff Carr on the field just after full-time in Saturday night's match. Stuart, the Herald yesterday revealed, had alleged a conspiracy to boost the international game had led to the Kangaroos' first World Cup final loss in 33 years.

Yesterday the Herald was told Stuart had also abused ARL chairman and tournament director Colin Love in the Australian dressing room after the match, before turning on Klein and Cummings as they got out of a lift at the Holiday Inn at about 12.15pm on Sunday. Stuart is understood to have been in the foyer with his family.

"We have received notice by two employees, Stuart Cummings and Ashley Klein, that they were verbally abused and physically and aggressively intimidated in the foyer of their hotel while in the process of checking out the day after the World Cup final," RFL chief executive Nigel Wood said. "They are currently travelling back to the UK and we will meet with them as soon as possible upon their return."

After arriving back in England last night (Sydney time), Cummings refused to disclose exactly what Stuart had said but he is understood to have again claimed the Kangaroos were "stitched up" during the expletive-laden outburst.

"It is in the hands of the RLIF [Rugby League International Federation], and they will deal with it as they see fit," Cummings told the Herald.

Love, who is also the RLIF chairman, said the matter would be investigated and a response to the allegations had been sought from Stuart.

It is unclear whether the incident would have any impact on Stuart's prospects of retaining the Australian coaching job but the World Cup organisers have the power to impose a fine if he is found guilty of misconduct.

Aside from a number of decisions by Klein and video referee Steve Ganson, it is understood Stuart alleged tournament organisers had disadvantaged the Kangaroos by pitting them against World Cup minnows Papua New Guinea and Fiji in the last two matches before the final .

In contrast, the Kiwis - beaten 30-6 by Australia in the cup opener a month earlier - played England in consecutive weeks leading up to the final. Having thrashed England 52-4 in their second game, Australia went on to post big victories over the Kumuls and the Bati.

An angry Stuart yesterday refused to comment when approached by a Fairfax reporter while taking part in a CanTeen charity golf event in Canberra.

Meanwhile, refereeing officials said they were happy with the performances of Klein and Ganson in the final.

"I'm very proud of the way Ashley handled himself in the match and the job he did," Cummings said.

A review of the match is expected to be completed today but World Cup referees boss Michael Stone said it was difficult to argue that Klein and Ganson had erred in awarding the Kiwis three contentious tries.

Stone said Anthony Laffranchi clearly had his hand on the ball and it had rotated as it came from Benji Marshall's grip in the lead-up to Jeremy Smith's first-half try, and was therefore a strip, Ganson had only to be of the opinion that Lance Hohaia would have scored to award the penalty try against Joel Monaghan, and there was no issue with players being in front of Nathan Fien when he kicked for Adam Blair's try.