IMPs. Opening lead ♥2. Table result NS+120
This was a hand which is based on an actual occurrence, but a more interesting constructed version occurred at a North London club last week. North opened 1NT out of turn in a match in the club's Probst Cup, which is a knockout team event. South announced it as 12-14, but East, who looks and behaves like the Secretary Bird, pointed out that North was not dealer. The director was called, and gave the standard ruling, but SB asked South, before making his decision, "You play strong in third don't you?" South confirmed that was the case, and corrected his announcement to 15-17. "I want to accept the BOOT", said SB. South decided to pass, and East led a heart, and declarer could only make 8 tricks. In the other room, after two passes, North opened a weak NT, South invited and North accepted, so NS gained 5 IMPs. Of course, this ultimately decided the match ...
SB was unhappy and started his attack on South. "You fielded a systemic misbid", he began. "You only knew that partner did not have 15-17 from your side's infraction of opening 1NT out of turn", he continued and then paused for breath. "In addition, even opposite a weak NT, you should have invited, and the good game would have been reached. The fact that partner opened out of turn was AI, but the fact that he did not have 15-17 was UI and you selected from among logical alternatives one that could demonstrably have been suggested by that UI." Again, he paused for breath. "Furthermore you did not carefully avoid taking any advantage from ..."
South, who had been on the excellent EBU Club Director course, was a bit taken aback by the tirade and interrupted: "Surely, I am allowed to know that partner opened 1NT out of turn", he responded. And you accepted it, suggesting that you had a reasonable hand, and I guessed that minor suit finesses would probably lose". That arises from the legal procedures authorized in the Laws and is AI.
The TD told SB not to try to make a ruling for himself, and also told South not to argue with SB. How should the TD rule?