If – and I stress, it is ‘if’ at the moment – what is alleged against David and Andrew Fifita is true, there is no other option for the Cronulla Sharks than to tear up their contracts.
If they don’t, the NRL and it’s so called ‘Integrity Unit’ must intervene and do it for them.
Rugby league cannot afford this kind of press.
In a time when football and AFL are doing wonders to win fans amongst women and children, what kind of message would it send if this behaviour is tolerated or accepted in any way?
I’m not suggesting for one minute that these other codes, or even other sports for that matter, don’t have ill-discipline and poor treatment of referees and umpires at a professional level.
They absolutely do.
The difference here is that we’ve got professional sportspeople allegedly abusing a volunteer official at a junior level. It’s worth repeating those two key facts.
Volunteer official. Junior level.
If the Fifita brothers are indeed found guilty of partaking in this behaviour, it’s a very slippery slope for what is condoned in terms of player behaviour.
There is already an issue with how officials are treated in all sports. Players, coaches, parents, fans – nearly all those involved with sport at some level – have let their frustration with officialdom get the better of them at one time or another.
I absolutely put myself in that category.
The problem here is the example it sets for kids.
Whether we like it or not, sportspeople are role models and their standards are placed on a pedestal. We may not like it, but that is reality.
Between the ages of 14 and 20, I was a Rugby Union referee.
From a young age, I knew that my abilities in the sport I loved were never going to get me anywhere near the elite level, so I looked for other avenues of involvement.
I refereed two or more games every Saturday of schoolboy rugby and before long was officiating in junior representative fixtures and was in a national referee development program.
I was excited at the prospects that came with it.
However, not a weekend went by where I wasn’t abused.
Some of the vitriol I copped from parents truly had to be heard to be believed. Saturdays became increasingly unenjoyable. Saturdays occasionally made me fear my own safety.
I gave it away at the age of 20.
I’ll admit I probably needed a thicker skin, but you don’t realise those things at 15.
Equally true, however, is the fact that I am one of countless young men and women who would like volunteer to be referees and umpires, in any sport you can name, who don’t participate because of the abuse they have received.
Let’s not forget two key facts.
Firstly, sports don’t exist – at any level – without umpires and referees. Secondly, sport at the junior level, is a game. It is not a multi-million dollar corporate exercise like professional sport.
Not that that excuses abusive and intimidating behaviour directed towards officials.
On Sunday, NRL CEO David Smith labelled the alleged behaviour “intolerable”. He’s absolutely right.
It is disrespectful and it is intolerable.
James Graham’s suspension at the start of the year was a step in the right direction for the poor behaviour on field directed towards match officials. One has to wonder what will happen here.
The last thing Cronulla needs is more negative press and trauma for their fans after the arduous years they’ve endured with prolonged ASADA investigation.
However, this is one tough decision they may have to make if the alleged becomes fact.
The Sharks and the NRL potentially have a chance to begin drawing a line in the sand when it comes to the level of respect match officials are given.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Three weeks for someone who whilst apologising , was in a ;position of authority,got off with a wet lettuce hit.Joke.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Sporting Tragedy, I fully agree with everything that you have said, but in Fifita's brothers case, I'm sure that its more of an ego thing and that they thought that they were 'some sort of authorities' on the game of RL because they play at the top level for the Sharks. The NRL and the Sharks club should come down on them like 'a tone of bricks' if the allegations are proven to be true. I would also like to mention that the refereeing in the NRL comp in round 20 wasn't top notch and surely this article is not written to affect (or make us all guilty) of criticising the referees. lol
Benedict Arnold
Guest
if there is one thing to say about Fifita(s) it's that they have too much to say. Remember when Andrew had a deal worked out with Canterbury and then blabbed about going to union afterwards? They pulled the deal. Bloke does have a big mouth that can get him into trouble.
Samtwocan
Guest
There's apparently quite a few witnesses to interview.
spruce moose
Guest
Clarkson apologised. Fifita (s) are denying all allegations. They deserved to be chucked out of the game.
NTJ
Guest
Have to say I'm laughing at all the calls for a 12 month ban, or any ban from the NRL for that matter. The ref claimed to have video evidence, and now he didn't press record? Please. You can't ban someone from playing based solely on hearsay. If you take the opinion of one witness saying they were in the wrong, you can't completely disregard the statements of others saying they weren't; you can't pick and choose to suit the outcome you want. I agree with a fine for being involved in some kind of incident with a junior official, but to suggest punishments larger than what others have received for worse offences is ridiculous.
Jason
Guest
Junior (and senior) match officials cop abuse all the time. It comes with the job. Kinda like being a cop. You don't want it and it's not what you signed up for, but you know it's coming. Imagine every person who's ever abused a match official at any level getting sacked from their job. There'd be no one left with jobs in this country
JVGO
Guest
Why take this opportunity to draw a line in the sand? There have been a million other far worse points at which no line in the sand was drawn. But I guess it's the Sharks so let's make an example of them on the flimsiest of evidence.....again. The Roosters have Kenny Dowel, Jennings, Pearce and Blake Ferguson all running around. This is a relatively minor incident blown out of all proportion. A ban from attending local footy, a fine, counseling, conciliation between the parties, these are appropriate steps. Talk of 12 month bans are ridiculous. An AFL coach got 4 weeks for a comparable incident.
Jackso
Guest
Good god - another line in the sand washed away by the wave of the pragmatic need for $$$ and results over good intentions...Takes attention away from SKD and another salary cap scandal at Parramatta
Dane
Guest
If there's one thing the NRL loves doing, it's NOT drawing a line in the sand.
fazed
Guest
He got inflamed later in the match when they got penalised a few times while defending their goal, one of the verbals had the ref telling him several times to go away, No doubt it was due the aspect that the sharks had gotten in front & time was slipping by. Something he has to watch, as he's already been suspended for this sort of thing, & with finals approaching the last thing needed for the dogs is to lose their captain again.
MAX
Guest
Notwithstanding the fact that finals participation is now in jeopardy, Raelene would be pleased that Fifita was not signed. I would not like to see the Fifita families suffer for their bread winners' stupidity. As several Roarers have suggested other penalties may offer a better solution. Fifita may have ben lucky that the off duty policeman did not arrest him and in so doing placed him in the system.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
I thought graham did quite well to seem to be making a conscious effort. Reynolds got a bit loose though at times
fazed
Guest
Have them also run the lines & referee junior football before being allowed to return as players. I watched the Bulldogs & Sharks game on 9 yesterday, & notice that the players from both teams were quite in the face of the referee on several occassions, more so the dogs & seems that with some more games under his belt & further out from his return after the earlier incident that got him suspended James Graham was verbally the referee even when told to go away, one of the Morris twins was joining him as well.
Johnnyball
Guest
If the charges are true, stand them down for twelve months but make them study and achieve a referees licence before they can return. Not my idea but a sensible one where they could see what the other side of the fence is like.