Club try to find ref's assailant
After the final whistle in a match between Coventry and Moseley on 2 October at Coventry’s ground, Butts Park Arena, a spectator tried to assault the referee in the tunnel.
This Championship match was a derby between the two sides and Moseley won 28-25 but it was not a simple victory. The referee, Luke Pearce, awarded three penalty tries to Moseley, third one, which decided the outcome, was eight minutes into injury time. There was anger in part of the crowd.
The spectator (unknown) did not manage to strike the referee as club officials stopped him but the RFU, England’s governing body, asked for an inquiry after complaints from the referee and two assistant, Chris Sharp and Chris Seeley.
The club also decided to undertake its own investigation. The appealed for witnesses and help in identifying the would-be assailant.
The Coventry chairman Andrew Green said in his appeal: “We would ask anybody who has information on this incident to contact the club as soon as possible.
“We will treat calls in the strictest confidence but it is imperative we treat this with the utmost seriousness.
“I wish to make it clear that we abhor the alleged behaviour, that we will do all in our power to identify the alleged assailant and that we will ban this person from our stadium, once guilt has been established.
“Coventry Rugby Club wishes to express its profound regret at this alleged incident particularly to the match officials. We are certain that all of our true supporters will subscribe to these sentiments.”
The RFU then decided to take no action against Coventry RFC, finding that the club had acted appropriately to try and protect the match officials, instigated an ongoing search for the culprit, which has included articles on their website, in the local press and match day programme, decided it would ban the culprit, if identified and on the establishment of guilt, from the Butts Park Arena and had expressed their regret to the referee.
In addition, if the culprit is identified as a member of the club, the RFU will potentially bring action against that individual under Rule 5.12 for bringing the game into disrepute.
RFU Disciplinary Officer Judge Jeff Blackett said: “Match official abuse is one of the most serious offences which strikes at the heart of discipline in rugby football. It is abhorred in all sports. Match officials are fundamental to participation and enjoyment and must be respected and protected. Those who are found guilty of match official abuse will be dealt with severely.
“This was an unfortunate, although isolated, incident which is not usual in rugby football. However we did consider carefully whether to charge the club with failing to control their crowd but decided that disciplinary action against the club was unnecessary. I am confident that the club acted appropriately to safeguard the officials and have done all they could to identify and find the alleged culprit. Nevertheless I require them to review their arrangements relating to the passage of players and officials to and from the dressing rooms to ensure that any risk of future offences of this kind is minimised.”
