Six days after a video of Rassie Erasmus was released where he criticized the match officials following the match between the Springboks and British & Irish Lions, he has been charged with misconduct.
World Rugby said that the “extensive and direct nature” of Erasmus’ hour-long video monologue is a possible breach of the Code of Conduct. In a statement they called officials the “backbone” of the sport and said that, “Without them there is no game.” Adding that, “World Rugby condemns any public criticism of their selection, performance or integrity which undermines their role, the well-established and trust-based coach-officials feedback process, and more importantly, the values that are at the heart of the sport.”
In the video, Rassie Erasmus spoke for 62 minutes and highlighted, in particular, the performance of Australian referee Nic Berry in the match where the British & Irish Lions won 22-17.
He felt that South African players were not held in the Same regard as the Lions and in the video he said, “Let the Springboks and the Lions have an equal chance on the field when it comes to laws, respect, the way players are treated, what is said in the coaches’ pre-match meeting with the referees, how they give feedback post-match and how things are said in the media. It’s comical the respect the [officials] showed towards the South African players compared to the Lions players.”
The World Rugby statement said that it wanted to remind both sides of their obligation to uphold the integrity of the sport, saying that, “It is an opportunity for both teams and their management to set a positive example and concentrate on the spectacle and a wonderful example of rugby and its values at their best.”
Sources: BBC, MSN
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