- Abertillery-Blaenau Gwent RFC Discussion Forum -

The Sec · Joined: 12 Mar 2006 Posts: 247

I've now received a letter from the WRU re the verbal abuse of match day referee Alan Sheppard who officiated at the Gwernyfed match.
I understand the frustration of our supporters over some of the decisions made on the day, I must however stress that WE CAN NOT ABUSE REFEREES without who matches could not take place.

The WRU have on numerous occasions informed clubs that sanctions will be taken against those clubs whos officials or supporters can't control their emotions and that financial or point deductions WILL result as a result of any abuse directed at the match day official.

I've now to reply to the union in our defence and hope that we will only receive a warning! Be aware that the worst scenario could be points deductions and financial penalties which would damage not only the reputation of the club but also undo all the hard work put in by the coaches and players.

THINK BEFORE YOU ACT IN FUTURE

Below I've listed some of the recent results of the disciplinary committees sanctions against offending clubs:-

Code of Conduct

St Clears: Verbal abuse of referee by supporter v St David's
Club fined £500 suspended for 12 months

GLYNEATH
Spectators entering field of play v Bedlinog: Club fined £500 of which £250 payable to the Union within 28 days, the balance of £250 suspended for 12 months.

rich · Joined: 24 Jan 2008 Posts: 2

Does it make any difference that it was indeed a fellow WRU Official, that was abusing the referee !?! Point well made though dai, the club should not tolerate such behaviour. I do wonder how the WRU might have reacted if the ref v. England last saturday disallowed the two clear tries that we scored due to his bad positioning, and awarded a Kickable penalty in the 8th minute of injury time!! then again they have got the video ref!

mr carter · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 6

Hi Dave , going back to the abuse of the ref during and after the game, by spectators,i feel the ref is out to try and prove some sort of point.As you are all aware i,m the nearest to the action after the players.During the game the comments and shouting for the first 60mins mostley came from the Gwenyfed supporters. After the game i was quite close to the referee,and shock his hand along with the gwenyfed touch judge, and certainly never heard any personnel abuse aimed at the referee i did here a lot of comments to why he never awarded the two trys as even certain Gwenyfed players and officials said they were clear trys. When the first disallowed try was not given there was a certain person asked to leave the area behind the dead ball line which this gentlemen did, he made no fuss about it, but indeed the referee kept the confrontaion going by asking the gentlemen to hurry up and leave the old cycle track area, i believe once he asked him to leave he didn't need to keep the confrontation going.
As you know that day we had a large crowd of home and away supporters also a large contingent of neutrals. Since we have been in the lower leagues our large body of away support has been made welcome at most grounds we have travelled to and have never been critised or accussed of this sort of behaviour in the past, and in fact most teams who we play against comment on how they wish they had our support as they such an assest to our team. I hope the powers to be appreciate this and with a good letter from yourself will understand that not all the blame can be aimed at clubs who have no jurisdiction who is allowed into puplicly owned parks run by county councils.

Graham Riley · Joined: 10 Sep 2007 Posts: 55

Hi Steve, Some excellent comments . Your exactly right in your account of the slight altercation between the referee and the spectator. I was at that corner of the field following play when the incident happened. When the referee ordered the gentleman to leave the proximity of the playing area , he did so immediately. The referee then repeated the request twice when the man was already walking away. In fact the man did not argue at all. It seemed quite bizzare. All I heard the man say was " I'm going. "
_________________
Graham Riley

The Sec · Joined: 12 Mar 2006 Posts: 247

With such a small committee its almost impossible for your elected officers to police matches alone, all I can ask is that other members who witness losses of restraint remind those involved of the serious implications to the club.

We have a good reputation with our opposition and match officials it would be a pity should relations be spoiled, lets all try to watch and play rugby with a constant smile on our faces...... fortunately this is more often possible due to the performances on the pitch.

Smile

SCRUMDOWN · Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 7:59 pm Post subject:

As also previously being an officer of this club I can stongly agree with Steve's comments about it being an "Open" arena - in the past I have had the ref ask me to remind people about their comments - after the game I had to explain that the persons who had made the comments were non paying members of the public who were taking their children to the play ground to play but who had got carried away by the atmosphere of the park!

All I can suggest is regular annoucments from the speaker box and maybe a big banner printed with RESPECT THE REF - CHWARAE TEG displayed on the railings.

mr carter · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 6

Although there have been a few replies agreeing,with what i have posted on the site. I would like to point out i'm totally in support of clubs policy of no abuse directed at the match day officials who ever they might be.
One we all get frustrated during games i'm a prime example from years gone by when there was no one more one eyed than myself, i have managed to control my emotions over the last few years, so if things dont seem to be going our way lets all stay positive and direct our vocal noise at lifting our players to the next level, if our players here us cheering them on rather than abusing the match day official that can only have a positive results, so lets all stay calm and try and control our emotions and show respect to the ref.