No coaching for rugby referees
View(s):The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) had directed its affiliations, including the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association not to allow rugby coaches to engage in refereeing. The SLRFU has directed the President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Referees’ Society not to appoint individuals involved in coaching, at any level, as referees. In addition the SLRFU has directed the referees appointed for the ongoing Inter-Club Sevens Championship, should have a minimum qualification of an IRB Level 2 certificate.
Foreign referees for local games was seen as an easy option - File pic
This directive comes at a point when referee Irshad Cader has been abused and intimidated by spectators after the Singer Schools Under-20 match between St. Joseph’s and Science College played at Longdon Place on Friday. Cader had issued a red card to a player from St. Joseph’s for punching during the last stages of the match, won by Science 23-22. The player was also reported for abusing the referee after the card was issued.
Referee Carder confirmed that abusive spectators attempted to enter the dressing room thereafter. He said that subsequently the master-in-charge of St. Joseph’s had come into the room and demanded an explanation for the red card and some other decisions. The abusive group of spectators are said to be members of the Rugby Advisory Committee of the aggrieved school.
However Match Commissioner N. Wijerama had intervened into the matter and had explained the group that the referee needs not to participate in any discussion with spectators and if there are complaints, the master-in-charge of the team should use the right protocols to submit them. Eventually the referee had to leave under police escort.
As an interim measure they have allowed Aruna Rankothge and Priyantha Gunratne to referee in the ongoing Sevens Championship while two referees have been flown to fill the void. Interestingly Cader, who was almost manhandled by spectators on Friday, is one of those referees who are not involved on coaching and is an accredited IRB Level 3 referee.
A spokesperson for the SLRFU commented that it has to start somewhere and even take a chance as there are continuous complaints about referees who are coaching attempting to influence fellow referees. They also said that while the SLRFU has spent on conducting IRB courses and over 30 have participated only a handful have been interested to complete to get their accreditation. A spokesman for the school section noted that they are happy with the attempt to stop the coaches from refereeing.