Limerick club tackles abuse of referees head on

THOMOND RFC are  tackling referee abuse head on in a letter to supporters.

A letter signed by Michelle Copley, president of Thomond RFC, has been widely shared on WhatsApp and on the club’s own social media channels.

Ms Copley commences by saying it has come to the club's attention that there have been incidents of verbal abuse of match officials at  games involving their teams.

“The club operates a zero tolerance approach to all kinds of abuse and the abuse of match officials is chief among them. Referees are human beings. They can make mistakes. Players make mistakes. Coaches make mistakes. Administrators make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes.

“Why any supporter who attends our games, whether they be a member or not, feels empowered, licenced to or at liberty to engage with any officials in any manner, is inappropriate behaviour, immature, petulant and will not be tolerated,” writes the president of the club based in Liam Fitzgerald Park, Ballygrennan.

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Ms Copley said if someone wants to attend their games in a supportive manner and feels entitled to behave this way then they are in the wrong club and wrong environment, and need to go elsewhere. 

“It is simply not acceptable. Thomond RFC are responsible for the behaviour of their supporters and will not be embarrassed by anyone not respecting a match official. 

“If you cannot comply then you will be asked to leave and your membership subscription returned and will be immediately suspended indefinitely,” writes Ms Copley.

She concludes: “We are instructing all our supporters to forcefully remind each other about our code of behaviour and to teach one another that supporting Thomond comes with certain responsibilities.” 

The letter has been warmly received with one commenting: “Great to see a statement like this come from a club. More clubs in all sports should follow suit.”