Clive rugby supporter Puru Haimona has been banned from attending any games in Hawke's Bay for the rest of the season.
Haimona received the ban at a Hawke's Bay Rugby Football Union judicial hearing last week. It followed the calling off of a development grade game between Clive and Tamatea at Farndon Park on April 25.
Union officials didn't release details of the hearing to SportToday until yesterday as Haimona had the opportunity to appeal the ban. He didn't.
Haimona is the father of two players in the Clive side which forfeited the game. He was asked to leave the ground by the referee for continual abuse and bad language directed at the referee during the first half.
Despite being told the game would not be restarted until he left, Haimona refused to leave. Haimona's hearing was one of five referee-abuse related hearings dealt with by the union during the past three weeks.
Union club rugby manager, former All Black and Magpies centre Ian MacRae, said his union is extremely concerned with the trend.
"I believe it will take a major change in attitude by society in general to reverse this disturbing trend," said MacRae.
His union is hoping all rugby people will take this issue on board and bring peer pressure on those offending in this way. MacRae reminded rugby fans that without referees there won't be a game.
"The Hawke's Bay Rugby Referees Association has worked very hard and recruited a record number of new referees but still barely have enough to cover our games. Consequently there are a good number of referees out there who are learning their trade and should receive tolerance and assistance from all concerned," said MacRae.
The MAC division three team has been put on a good behaviour bond of $300 after their match against Havelock North last weekend was called off. The hearing was told the MAC captain was asked to cool his players but didn't and abuse of the ref continued.
A loud "smash the ref" comment was heard during the game. The hearing panel couldn't ascertain whether it had come from a player and the MAC team alleged it had been said by a spectator.
Last week SportToday reported a Hastings Rugby and Sports division three player had been suspended for four weeks after abusing a referee, a Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports division three player had been suspended for six weeks and both the Tamatea premier and Pirate division three teams had received suspended $300 fines.
The Pirate division three player, who made two dangerous tackles before being ordered off, had not been transferred from a previous club.
CLUB RUGBY - Clive fan banned after abuse of referee
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