There is a similar precedent in the case of World Cup of Pool England A v Romania (2015)
In rack 5, Romanian player accidentally left his cue extension near rail and ball hit it. Referee Nigel immediately called foul
https://youtu.be/0YXheh7Pg_w?t=2274
But in that case, the cue extension was player own implement whereas the template is a neutral implement in the case of Grabe v Dechaine (2016). If the ref was the one racking , it would not have been ruled a foul. It could be argued that Grabe was performing a neutral role or wearing the hat of ref when he was racking so it should not be ruled a foul ?
(The irony is Romania were themselves beneficiary of a cue foul in their previous World Cup of Pool Romania v Indonesia (2015) when Indonesian player inadvertently marked the table with his cue when his partner was shooting
https://youtu.be/DL7Elgts4Xo?t=3022 )