The Otago Rugby Referees Association has given its full support to a premier referee who ordered a spectator from the ground on Saturday afternoon, and says no referee should have to stand for abuse.
At the match between Pirates and Dunedin at Kettle Park on Saturday afternoon, referee Adam Morrison moved to the sideline and talked to a spectator, asking him to leave the ground after he was believed to have abused Morrison.
Otago Rugby Referees Association chairman Jim Thomson said the incident stemmed from when a Pirates player had been shown a yellow card earlier in the game.
Later in the match, an incident led to some Pirates supporters suggesting another yellow card be handed out to a Dunedin player but no such penalty was given.
The spectator is believed to have jumped over the rope and started with the abuse, which was directed to the sideline official and the referee.
Thomson said the spectator did as he was asked and left the field and the game continued.
Dunedin won 23-21.
Thomson said the referee was quite entitled to ask the spectator to leave the ground.
It had happened before, although he said it might happen only once every two seasons.
''At the end of the day the referee is a volunteer and he does not have to put up with abuse from spectators. We do not need this type of abuse,'' he said.
He said it was good the spectator had listened to the referee and moved off the ground.
He said abuse was not getting any better or worse but people should show more respect for the referee.
Thomson said it was up to the clubs and the Otago Rugby Football Union to check on security at grounds.
The game ended up having four yellow cards.
Alhough he had not kept an accurate count, Thomson said it did appear as though the trend in club rugby was for more yellow cards to be handed out.
Five yellow cards were handed out by Morrison in the club match last month between University A and Zingari-Richmond.
Thomson said the referees were trying to set a high standard which the players had to reach.
If a player offended then the referee had to make a ruling.
He said no premier coaches had approached him complaining about the increased use of yellow cards.
Yellow cards were also on the increase in the Super 15.
Any player in club rugby who receives three yellow cards in a season has to appear in front of the judiciary.
Metropolitan Rugby Council chairman John Hammer said he did not have all the facts about the incident but he certainly did not condone abuse from spectators.
