IRB, Kaplan and Armchair referees
View(s):Jonathan Kaplan asked a simple question from the coaches, administrators and media who were brought together by the SLRFU for a discussion by the SLRFU. He asked whether there are crowd invasions when a cricket umpire makes a mistake. Why is this happening in rugby and worst why do people try to justify it? It boils down to a bad culture.
This is a serious issue which almost all present agreed needed to be sorted. The issue needs working on at the strategic level. The attendance, accept for a few, consisted of those at the operational level and the message might get distorted when conveyed. While some schools were represented, the schools section and or officials of the Education Ministry were conspicuous by their absence. A handful of schools were represented and did air their views.
When we talk about referees an anecdote and a comment comes to my mind and is related below with changes to some words of the anecdote to suit a public print.
A teacher walks into her classroom and turns to the children and says, “Today kids, I am going to ask you what job your dad has!” She turns to the first child and says, “What job does your daddy have Tina?” “She replies, “He is a stockbroker miss.” The teacher turns to the next child and repeats the question. The child says, “He is the head of a food chain.” Very good indeed says the teacher and turns to the next child and asks, “What job does your dad have Robert?” He replies, “He is a whistleblower miss.” “NO, NO, NO you are lying to me Robert!” the teacher exclaims. “Ok then miss you got me. I confess, my dad is a rugby referee but I am too ashamed to say that!!!”
Both comments above say something about rugby referees who have been at the receiving end of abuse but have still taken the whistle while the game goes on. How many would want to be a referee when you read that almost nobody wants to follow the IRB Super Week to be a referee. Yet there are many who want to be coaches.
The continuous criticism of referees, suspensions and publicity adds to the “Halo Effect” – Non Acceptance of Referees. Charith Kodagoda, who has played the game at a high level was at the receiving end last week and has decided to call it quits. On the other hand we say people who should referee are those who have played the game. What happens to the man who has played? The best are those who referee sitting in the pavilion.
The question is who wants to be a referee? If you have a job, a family and have some affiliations in life would you want your employers, family or friends to read what is said about a referee? Ask yourself whether you are the villain or cause of a lack of referees as you say.
Who has contributed to the mess; inter alia the Union, Schools Section, Clubs, Schools, Coaches, Players, Spectators, the Referees Society or the Referees themselves. Each can do a self reflection to be able to address the cause. What is needed is for the referee to be there or else the game will suffer. There are over 600 games in a year and do you still think that there are enough funds to bring in referees for all games?
Kaplan, as confirmed by a council member, had advised the SLRFU that the referees must start from schooldays and also it is not necessary that they should have played the game. That is he is thinking of somebody who has refereed at the highest level. His view was that in the short run you have to fast-track former players. Charith is someone who has played good rugby, fast-tracked and the hooligans have made him say goodbye.
A senior said, “I sincerely do not want to attend a funeral of a referee who had died due to spectator violence in my life time and hope to see an end to this trend with immediate effect so that ALL (including the referee) can enjoy a good game of rugby.”
This was the second time in less than a month that mobs in large numbers converged on to the field. It is hilarious when some express their views by saying, nothing of that sort happened and my officials were not involved. We are not responsible as it was the host team that is responsible. How many times did officials show dissatisfaction to the crowd which possibly fuelled those who were already intoxicated to take matters into their own hands?
A few hours later the schools section suspended the Master-in-Charge of St. Joseph’s College for the failure of the school to provide security. The MIC of Dharmaraja College too has been suspended for failing to control his officials on the bench whose actions resulted in the frustrated behaviour of the spectators. The schools section must be applauded for acting fast and making their presence felt this time around.
Stupid can be explained as: Knowing the truth, seeing the truth but still believing in the lies. Otherwise how can you explain the denial of we do no harm? Similarly, how do you explain the decision to declare a game as a draw and challenge the basic fabric of the game that the referee is the sole judge of fact and law? True that somebody agreed that the referee managed the game badly as reported in the media. The issue is whether somebody sitting outside can change the scores. Was this an issue of law? That of course was in the books in 1959 as law 10.6. The game has evolved a lot since then.
What happened to the tournament rules that say: “If a team refuses to play or abandons a Match in progress without the prior consent of the Referee, that Team will score no Match points and their opponents will be given Five Match points as winner of the game. The team declared winner will keep its score For and will have no points scored Against.
It appears that the way has been paved for people to keep off the whistle with the referee no longer being the sole judge of fact and law. That is something the governing body should look at without hiding behind the veil of ‘The schools section is not within our control’. If you assault referees when they make a mistake can you take the other side of the coin and assault a coach because players make mistakes?
- Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB
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