THE Rugby Football Union’s Referee Manager Ken Bracewell has welcomed the eight-week suspension given to Lydney RFC coach Pat Kiely for abusing a touch judge.
Kiely was found guilty on two charges on Monday of verbally abusing a match official and another of disobeying an order to remain in the technical area during the match against Wharfedale on 4th October. He was banned from coaching on match days until 29th December. An additional four week ban from match-day coaching was suspended until the end of the 2004-5 season.
Bracewell said: "We in refereeing are very pleased with the way in which the RFU Disciplinary Panel have dealt with the case of abuse of match officials at Lydney RFC.
“Our officials are committed to providing a quality service to the Game and, whilst we appreciate that emotions will occasionally run high during intense competition, there is no excuse for referees and touch-judges to be subject to the type of abuse as witnessed in this case. We hope that Lydney and other clubs will ensure that such incidents will not recur in the future."
Lydney were reprimanded for failing to make adequate provision to keep their coaches and replacements in the designated technical area. They have been asked to remind officials of the regulation and their responsibilities under it.
A sentence of playing one home game behind closed doors was also imposed for failing to ensure the personal safety of match officials by allowing spectators to jostle the match officials after the match. This sentence is suspended until the end of the 2003-4 season.
The club was found not guilty of allowing spectators to issue verbal threats to match officials in and around the dressing-room area. They were ordered to pay £300 costs. |
