‘Behaviour towards referees has to change… we need to take decisive action’

BY JOHN DAVIDSON

The RFL has promised to take decisive action to combat a rise in appalling behaviour towards match officials in the amateur game.

This week the Huddersfield Rugby League Referees Society withdrew its Under-18s officials from Yorkshire Junior and Youth League matches this weekend over abuse of its officials and a failure to take action. You can read their statement here.

The Dewsbury and Batley Referee Society also tweeted: “As a sport we are seeing more and more referee abuse.

“Unfortunately the scariest part of it, it’s adults who are verbally abusing referees who are under the age of 18, which is our biggest issue. This needs to stop, this is an safeguarding issue and as a sport we are failing.”

The RLF has admitted that the standard of behaviours aimed at match officials has worsened in the amateur leagues in the UK in the past few months. 

“The standard of behaviours on our touchlines has deteriorated significantly since the community game has returned in full, post lockdown,” Marc Lovering, the RFL’s Director of Participation and Development, said.

“This deterioration in behaviours and hostile environments has resulted in an increase in match official abuse including verbal abuse of young match officials and on more than one occasion physical assault. 

“We were already facing challenges in terms of the impact of Covid on the number of active match officials and the poor behaviours we have seen this season have exacerbated the problem to the extent it is highly unlikely we will have enough match officials to appoint to every game next season.

“The RFL already had plans in place to bring all key stakeholders together at the end of the season to address these challenges. 

“The recent decision by the Huddersfield Referees Society not to appoint match officials under the age of 18 is further evidence of the need for action.

“It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to comment on the details of the disciplinary case which led to the decision not to appoint referees as I wasn’t part of that process. We do however have to respect the decision the Society has made and recognise they wouldn’t have done so unless they felt the situation warranted it.

“It is also important to note that the volunteers at the Yorkshire Junior League have been very proactive in communicating with the RFL this season in recognising and trying to find a solution to the challenges that exist.

“The fact some matches may not take place at the weekend is not the fault of the Yorkshire Junior League. It is the cumulative impact of some appalling behaviours exhibited by a minority of players, parents and other spectators during this season. 

“That has to change and I think all key stakeholders recognise that as a collective we need to take some decisive action ahead of next season – and we will.”

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