Referees reluctant after attacks

Press, 10 April 1987, Page 38

Referees reluctant after attacks

PA Wellington Four attacks on referees in recent weeks might cause Wellington rugby league referees to refuse to go to some games in the future. The referees’ association chairman, Des O’Sullivan, said that with the season only a week old he was already reluctant to assign referees to certain games and certain parks. “It’s getting to the stage where we will have to seriously consider refusing to send our referees

out,” he said. “I know it has been considered before, but I don’t think it has ever been done in the 15 years I’ve been with the association.” “Our referees are being spat at, jostled, shouldercharged and punched, and they are sick of it,” he said. In the first full round of Wellington competition last Saturday, three referees were assaulted, Mr O’Sullivan said. A spectator was charged with assault after an incident involving a

referee in a pre-season match two weeks ago. So far 14 players had been sent off, Mr O’Sullivan said, while last year 66 were sent off in the , entire season. ' Mr O’Sullivan said that i violence on the field in , the early part of the season had been noticeably bad. “It’s not just rugby league,” he said. “Officials in all codes seem to be coming in from it. Possibly it’s a reflection of the increase in violence in our society.”