Give referee abuse the red card

 Referees are an important part of any sport, without them we would have confusion on the field and player’s safety and enjoyment would be severely jeopardised and diminished. That is why it is important that referees are always treated with respect and never abused.

 
Nationwide surveys of match officials have shown that abuse of referees is the single biggest factor that dissuades people from becoming a referee and is also the biggest cause of referees leaving the sport after their first season.
 
A survey in late 2010 of the NSW Rugby Referee Department highlighted that the single biggest negative message was abuse of referees, both during and after matches by members of the crowd and unfortunately coaching staff.
 
The abuse ranged from verbal to physical and in some cases even assault. This is not acceptable – it is ugly, unnecessary and has no place in Rugby Union or any other sport.
 
Everybody involved in the game has a responsibility to help stamp out the abuse of referees, from those on the sideline watching to the head of the Union, it is up to YOU to give referee abuse the Red Card!
 
Australian Rugby Union’s Code of Conduct stipulates that abuse of match officials is not acceptable and anyone who chooses to verbally or physically abuse a match official is breaching that code of conduct.
 
Zones, School Convenors, Unions and Clubs must take action against:

• team coaching staff that abuse or incite abuse of referees both during and after matches,
• players that abuse or incite abuse of referees both during and after matches; and
• abusive spectators who can be identified.

Ground Managers and Club Officials must also be responsive to protecting referees from abuse and must actively dissuade spectators who are in any way abusive.
 
To ensure a strong message is sent to those who do abuse match officials judiciaries should deal with abuse, when it is proven, in accordance with the IRB scales of punishment for abuse of match officials.
 
If clubs fail to take action against those who abuse referees then Referee Associations are encouraged to withdraw services to that club.
 
Referee abuse is ugly, it is unnecessary, it reflects poorly on the individual, the team and the game as a whole. Referee abuse does not help to grow the game from a grassroots level and we all have a responsibility to see that it is given a Red Card! We want everyone to enjoy their Rugby, thank you for your support.