|
17/03/2008 22:05
Johannesburg - A new precedent has been created by the outburst of Sharks coach Dick Muir at Ellis Park when he called the manager of referees of the Lions, Gabriel Pappas, a "f.ng. cheat" - and for the first time in the history of the Super 14 tournament, Sanzar could consider laying a charge against a coach for abuse of a referee.
Muir's outburst came during the Super 14 match between the Lions and the Sharks at Ellis Park on Saturday night. It happened in the media box in full view of all the journalists covering the match and came when Sharks hooker Bismarck du Plessis was not allowed back on the field after having had stitches put in.
Muir saw this as petty officialdom. However, regardless of the playing time that Du Plessis was off, the 15 minutes allowed for a player to be off for a blood injury is actual time, in accordance with Law 3.10 10 (a) TEMPORARY REPLACEMENT.
This differs from the referee's playing time when the clock is stopped for injures, consultations with assistant referees, and such matters.
The time appearing on the television set and on the stadium clock is playing time, not actual time. When the referee calls Time Off, the actual time runs on but the playing time is stopped.
Stoppage period
More than 15 minutes of actual time had elapsed from the time that Du Plessis had left the field and permission for him to return was declined.
Du Plessis was off for 14 minutes playing time, but the actual time also included three other incidents: The first scrum following the yellow-carding of
Lions prop Ross Geldenhuys had a stoppage period to allow the replacement prop JC Janse van Rensburg to come on. Time Off as called by the referee was even longer as Lions hooker Willie Wepener had to be strapped up on the field.
Then there was a short break when a player was given time to tie up a boot lace, before Geldenhuys' return brought about another delay. He was spoken to by referee Mark Lawrence, and then an injured player was tended to.
Muir first confronted the fourth referee on the sideline, and then stormed into the media centre where he confronted and insulted the official timekeeper Pappas in full view of the journalists who were covering the match.
According to the website rugby365.com, Saru's Managing Director of Policy and Regulations Christo Ferreira on Monday afternoon said that Muir had not been charged yet regarding the incident.
Rugby365 also reports that Sanzar's regional director Johan Botes has confirmed that one report on the incident had been received from relevant parties, and that three more reports on the incident were awaited.
Once the four incident reports are received, the matter would be referred to Sharks CEO Brian van Zyl before Sanzar makes a ruling.
|
