REFS V CROWD

[grooveavenue]

The Club have beat me to it. It has been a growing problem over the past few months at the Common and I was about to comment on the need for grandstand audience to temper their absolutely disgraceful heckling of match officials. Almost sounds like round ball abusive - in fact, sad - disrespect for these brave souls called match officials - who venture into rugby union for the joy of being in the game.
In fact the heckling is embarrasing, un-needed un-wanted un-knowledgeable, destructive.
Nows their chance to sign up to qualify as a RU referee!
Without these men and women where would the game be?

[Westcountry Mose]

Nobody, including match officials, should be subjected to foul language, threats or intimidation.

Nevertheless, sport at this level stirs passion and is supposed to be entertainment. It cannot therefore reasonably be expected that criticism will not be directed at 'Sir' when supporters believe a poor decision has been made. However, that criticism needs to be tempered and conveyed in a way that makes the point without being offensive. For example, at my local club, one supporter (a former player with a booming Geordie accent) shouts "Should have gone to Specsavers" if the officials miss a forward pass. I always try to think how would I feel if I was the ref and heard what was being conveyed by some spectators?

Refs themselves also make criticisms. I can remember watching Nigel Owens on the tv saying that he was straighter than a line out throw that was made by one of the players.

On a separate, but related matter, perhaps something should be done to prevent TMOs being influenced by tv pundits? It must be more than coincidence that a TMO contacts a ref only after tv pundits have reviewed footage and then makes the same point to the ref. In some instances, the pundit later changes their mind followed by the TMO!

[poldeburca]

I have to agree with the above,the heckling of the match officials on Saturday were a disgrace, and generally come from the same part of the stand every week, even to the point that the officials were bood off at half time. We have a rugby culture saying 'respect the officials', wether we agree with decisions or not. We have junior players making an effort to turn up and cheer the first team on, what sort of example are they being set my a loud vocal minority. I'm all for supporting the team, but as above, it's going too far abusing officials, which in turn has a detrimental affect on players who also hear this. Might our P.A. put out an announcement before each home game.

[Havana]

It is a sad day when our club has to put out a public statement regarding abusive behaviour by minority elements within the crowd watching one of our rugby matches. Such was the level of disgraceful language directed at officials on the pitch last Saturday that made it necessary.

Within established BMRC Policies there are clearly defined rules on such behaviour and potential consequences for those that choose to ignore them. The perpetrators know who they are and I suggest that they visit the club website to acquaint (or re-acquaint) themselves with the policy.

The club is very active in encouraging support for Birmingham Moseley and it is to be hoped that any further statements of this nature will not be required again.

[dag]

I know I have a hearing impediment but other than the good natured banter often heard at rugby matches I was not aware of any abusive behaviour towards the ref on Saturday - or was I concentrating too much on the match itself?

Come on Mooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose

[kingsheathlad]

I agree with above, however sometimes it can be frustrating for supporters when for example the referee misses something which the assistant referrers would have seen, but don't bring it to his/her attention.
I suppose when the three officials have their pre-match meet, the ref might say to assistants I only want to hear from you if foul play seen, leave everything else to me.
Again, if we don't have officials, we have no game we all love.

[dag]

I was sat next to the ref assessor - again - on Saturday. The assessor is in direct contact with the ref and he kept me reasonably up to date on things, particularly the Moseley penalty count of which many, far too many, were for back-chat.

However, he did enlighten me on the reason for the penalty against Moseley which occured after the player with the 'yellow' came back on. Now I never knew that.

Apparently a player sent off for a yellow cannot re-enter the game and take part in any play until a natural break - not a penalty, which, I am led to believe, includes the resultant line-out play therefrom - occurs; eg knock-on, ball kicked out of play. On Saturday our player thought, as did many others that a DMP kick had gone to touch on the far side when in fact it hadn't. It had been caught by Moseley player passed along the backs towards the stand side where our 'errant' yellow became invoved in the movement, hence penalty against Moseley at the point where he became involved.

As is often said one learns by mistakes and no doubt that one will be remembered for some while. That aside Come on Mooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose

[notanotherjohn]

Makes me glad I am too tight to pay for a seat in the stand! Part of the reason I love rugby is the atmosphere, the firendly rivalry that means you can have a pint next to a rival supporter, applaud great play by either side without feeling any intimidation (and I have seen England play at the Principality a couple of times).

As I said on the DMP match thread, I thought the ref had a decent game, he gave fair warning after some back chat early on and I was pleased to see Ollie gather the team and make very clear that was out of order. Perhaps he needs to have a word with some of those in the stand?

[grooveavenue]

I agree with n-a-j

Watching from near the pitch next to BM bench I thought the ref gave plenty of time to explaining his decisions. Seems like Ollie S left it to the end to disagree with him, big time!!

[Westcountry Mose]

Regarding dag's comment above. Didn't Tadhg Beirne return to the field of play on Saturday (following his yellow card) and scrag a Welsh line-out immediately following a penalty that had been kicked to touch?

[rogerhildreth]

Feb 27, 2024 16:39:29 GMT Westcountry Mose said:

Regarding dag's comment above. Didn't Tadhg Beirne return to the field of play on Saturday (following his yellow card) and scrag a Welsh line-out immediately following a penalty that had been kicked to touch?

You are correct. I thought that at the time!