An Eastern Cape rugby club faces a lengthy ban after one of their officials slapped a referee.
After Eastern Province Rugby Union president, George Malgas, told Telecom Asia Sport that the Grand Challenge Cup Middle 12 team Windvogel United has been provisionally suspended follow an incident on June 7 in the Gqeberha-based clubs away game against St. Marks Alicedale.
St. Marks won the match 16-12, but according to eyewitnesses in Alicedale, Windvogel, nicknamed the Reds, did not take kindly to some of the on-field decisions made by the officials.
A video also shows, after the final whistle, a member of Windvogel’s management walking over to the officials and slapping match referee, Chesley Daniels, across the face before a member of St. Marks’ management stepped in to try and calm the situation down.
But the tensions spilt over as the manager apparently launched a second attack, this time on assistant referee Wellington Samson, with claims that other members of the Windvogel management and team also allegedly assaulted Samson.
Threats to shoot the officials with a gun were also allegedly made. After receiving the officials and both clubs’ chairman’s reports on the incident EP Rugby boos, Malgas, said:
On Tuesday evening the union notified Windvogel United that they have been provisionally suspended pending the completion of an investigation into the incident.
So, there will be no rugby played by them this coming weekend, and we see this incident as very serious, and that is why we had to implement drastic measures.
Malgas adds that he finds it regrettable to impose such drastic measures as a few bad apples have now robbed a rugby-loving community of seeing their local heroes in action, after taking it upon themselves to take the law into their own hands, instead of following official channels through the union’s Referees Society where complaints against an official can be laid.
We will launch a proper investigation into this incident because the safety of players, supporters and our officials is of utmost importance. And if it means that one has to act in an autocratic manner, then you have to do it to uphold the image of the game.
In any situation, you can't take the law into your own hands, especially when taking those actions means that you are busy with criminal behaviour. To assault someone is a criminal offence. Even if you feel the referee and his assistants did not do their job to the best of their ability, then you have a right to lay a complaint with the Referees Society of the union. Especially when you have evidence that proves your claims.
One must also be mindful that referees, as human beings and are not always going to get every decision on the field correct, but it does not mean a player or a club official has the right to act as judge, jury and executioner.
