Focus on ref after betting probe claim

By LINDSAY KNIGHT and NZPA

SYDNEY - Rugby is bracing itself for a betting scandal amid concerns that a gambling syndicate tried to influence a referee's decisions during the World Cup, says the Sydney Morning Herald.

The newspaper yesterday claimed a referee was under threat of being overlooked for future international fixtures because of concerns about several of his decisions during the tournament, won by England in November.

Senior rugby officials had in recent weeks closely analysed numerous cup matches and had noted that in at least one match there were a number of debatable decisions, the paper said.

It is believed that officials found fault with at least 10 of the refereeing decisions in one match.

IRB officials are expected to interview the referee.

The role of touch judges in several World Cup matches has also been placed under scrutiny to ensure their involvement led to the right decisions being made at important moments in games.

New Zealand's leading referee, Paddy O'Brien, described the report as an unwarranted slur on the tournament referees.

"It's a slur on all the referees because it doesn't name any particular game in which there was supposed to have been something suspicious," he said.

"I find it seriously disturbing that such a serious allegation can be made with nothing substantial to back it up."

O'Brien this week attended the IRB seminar in Auckland, but no mention was made of any alleged betting scam.

Instead, the almost unanimous feedback was that the tournament had been well-refereed.


Rugby Union chief executive Chris Moller was also baffled by the Sydney report.

"It's complete news to us," he said.

"We know nothing more than what has been published in Sydney.

" If there has been an issue - and we don't know that - then any inquiries should be directed to the IRB."

Moller declined to speculate on whether there would be concern if a New Zealand official had been involved in anything suspicious.

"We wouldn't comment on what appears to be only a rumour," he said.

"If some hard facts were presented then perhaps we would comment, but so far we've heard nothing."

Moller confirmed that to his knowledge the issue had not been raised in Auckland.

He was a member of the IRB referees committee and it was his impression that there had been general delight with the refereeing standard at the cup.

The Sydney report said that while most coaches and players were happy with the standard of refereeing, several were privately concerned about inconsistencies, especially in the area of the tackle and at the set pieces.

Confusion over decisions prompted officials from one team to approach a referee at halftime in one match and query his interpretations.

IRB, Sanzar and World Cup officials say they are determined to ensure the majority of refereeing decisions made in international matches cannot be disputed, especially with the huge worldwide interest in betting on these games.