Rotorua unions to crack down on abuse

Press, 1 June 1989, Page 44

Rotorua unions to crack down on abuse

PA Rotorua Rotorua rugby chiefs are about to crackdown on growing player and spectator abuse as referees’ fears of serious violence in the area’s rugby grounds grows. The get-tough move comes after another week-end of trouble, including an attack by a spectator on a referee at Ngongotaha. The incident happened after a senior reserve match between Ngongotaha Eagles and Kahukura at the Ngongotaha Domain and an assault complaint has been laid with the police. The referee was the Rotorua Referees’ Association president, Geoff Chard, who suffered eye bruising in the attack.

“It’s getting to the stage where you could end up on the wrong end of a six-inch blade,” he said yesterday. "It’s got that serious.” At some grounds referees have been pelted with mud and other objects. The- Rotorua Rugby Subunion president, Terry Bennett, said the problems with spectator abuse and violence have become a major con-

cern for officials. Along with a large number of sendings-off and abandoned matches the trouble has been just as great off field. Referees’ cars have been vandalised and referees and their families threatened this vear. Mr Bennett said the subunion has agreed to back the abandonment of matches if abuse on or off field continues. "We’ve told the referees they can walk off the field and the sub-union will deal with the consequences later. They don’t have to stay out there and take abuse and threats from players or the spectators.” Sub-union chiefs from around the Bay of Plenty met with referees’ representatives last week to discuss the abuse and player violence. "It’s just the nastiness that’s creeping into the game and it seems to be getting worse as the problems of the country and society get worse,” said sub-union executive member, Graham Andrews.

"A lot of people are very, very parochial to their clubs in Rotorua. They no longer

appreciate good or bad rugby. It’s the narrow view of winning at all costs.” Mr Chard believes a demerit point system for offending players would help weed out constant troublemakers. Many players were offending regularly but because no record was kept, they continued to play. At the start of the season a meeting was called between club captains, presidents and officials and support was called for to eradicate abuse by spectators and instill better discipline in players. However, clubs had been unco-operative in identifying troublemakers among the crowd.

Managers, coaches and spectators in general often knew who the culprits were but failed to act.

Among the moves planned to stamp out the crowd troubles are a higher profile for official patrols around grounds and the issuing of trespass notices banning people from grounds. The referees too are joining the action and have vowed to withdraw their services from clubs that do not improve their image.